Why burden fliers with UDF, conveyance charges, asks SC
The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the levy of several miscellaneous charges on fliers and took a suo motu cognisance of imposition of user development fee (UDF) and conveyance charges by airlines, setting the ground for a massive hike in airfares for those flying in and out of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA).
Issuing notices to the Centre and Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) — which operates the IGI Airport, the apex court sought a categorical explanation as to why these charges were burdened on the travellers instead of airline companies.
A Bench of Justices DK Jain and Madan B Lokur asked the DIAL and Director General Civil Aviation (DGCA) to file their affidavits, explaining how and for what purpose such charges were being imposed on the travellers. The court also wanted to know which authority was levying such charges from fliers and under what provisions.
“Prima facie, we are satisfied that you cannot levy such charges. How can airlines collect it? you are be-fooling the public. When season starts, you jack up your rates. You (DIAL) have goody-goody relations with airlines and the public is made to pay for it,” remarked the Bench when the DIAL counsel sought to argue that the airlines and their agents were levying such charges.
The counsel for the DIAL was on the last date of hearing asked by the court to (DIAL) to get instructions as to whether they were levying and collecting the UDF. During the arguments, the court noted that not
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