Flight slots in a jam this summer

NEW DELHI: The government is unlikely to tinker with airport charges at this juncture to ease congestion at busy airports like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Instead, it has stopped issuing fresh flight slots during peak hours to airline companies for the summer schedule beginning March end.

The freeze on new flight slots is expected to curtail congestion as airlines are likely to launch new flights at non-peak hours. The civil aviation ministry had said that airport charges during peak hours would ease congestion. At the same time, airport charges during off-peak hours (11 pm to 5am) would be reduced, officials of the ministry had said.

It is understood that the government may not either increase or reduce airport charges at this juncture. There is no tariff increase and reduction in airport charges during non-peak hours would be considered at the right time, they added.

While not tinkering with airport charges, the government is urging airlines to discontinue congestion surcharge. It is understood that airlines would take a decision on the levy after further consultations among themselves.

Officials of the civil aviation ministry informed airline representatives on Monday that there would be no new slots for the summer schedule during peak hours. It is not possible to stretch airport infrastructure anymore, sources told ET.

“The slot management for Delhi and Mumbai (airports) have been finalised for the summer schedule,” civil aviation secretary Ashok Chawla said after meeting the officials of airline companies.

The meeting was attended by senior officials of Indian, Jet Airways, Air Sahara, Kingfisher, IndiGo, SpiceJet, Air Deccan, GoAir, Paramount and Indus Airways. The airline companies have requested the ministry to increase it to 35 per hour.