Best printers for Home

Best Mixer Grinder

Best wired Earphones

Best 43 Inch TV in India

Best Wi Fi Routers

Best Home Theatre in India

Smart Watch under 5000

Best Laptops for Education

Best Laptop for Students

On Tuesday, July 16, 2019, the Rajya Sabha passed the AERA (Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India) Bill with an aim to bid out any new airport on the basis of a pre-approved tariff structure. While replying during the discussion on the said bill, Hardeep Singh Puri, the Civil Aviation Minister said, "As many as 16 airports will be in the purview of AERA. All other airports continue to be looked after by the Civil Aviation Ministry." The implications of the AERA bill At present, the major airports that have an annual capacity to handle about one and a half million passengers remain under the purview of the AERA (Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India). If the bill is passed, the definition of what makes a major airport will change. Henceforth, a major airport will be any aerodrome which already has or even designated to handle an annual passenger capacity of about three and a half million. The background On June 24, the cabinet had given its approval for the AERA bill. The AERA is a regulator with which the power to fix the tariffs that the airports charge. During the last time, the AERA bill was approved by the cabinet in December 2017 when the Narendra Modi Government was ruling during its first tenure. Nevertheless, the bill could not be passed during the monsoon session during the last year. With the formation of the new Lok Sabha now, the older AERA bill stands lapsed and hence the cabinet had to approve it once again. What the different provisions of the AERA bill imply? The government is looking forward to significantly increase the traffic threshold for the major airports. For instance, the annual traffic threshold of major airports will rise from 15 lakhs to more than 35 lakhs. This will see many airports in the country come out of the ambit of AERA. Hence those that will cease to be identified as major airports will come under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Government of India. So, henceforth, for all these airports, the tariff charges will be decided by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. The amendment also vests the Aviation Ministry with the powers to bid out airports projects on the basis of a pre-approved tariff. The AERA bill seeks to reduce the burden hanging on AERA as there has been a phenomenal increase in the passenger traffic which has increased the workload on AERA. With its limited resources, the AERA is finding it difficult to monitor the quality of services delivered at the major airports and also determine the various tariffs. The need for the amendment Notably, when the AERA bill was passed in 2008, the country had 11 airports with annual passenger traffic exceeding 15 lakhs, but the increase in the volume of air travels saw the number of airports almost triple eventually. Criticisms Some Rajya Sabha members argued against the bill saying that the government should have taken steps to strengthen the hands of AERA to be able to manage the additional workload instead of removing the airports from its control.

A major airport is the one having an annual capacity of 3.5 million passengers, says AERA (amendment) bill 2019

The GVK-run <keyword id="6592232" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Mumbai-International-Airport-Ltd">Mumbai International Airport Ltd</keyword> (MIAL) would have to wait till November for an upward revision in airport charges as the tariff regulator has decided to continue with the existing rates for another three months. "Aeronautical tariff(s) approved by the Authority vide order dated January 15, 2013, shall continue up to November 30, 2015, or until the final determination of the tariffs for the second control period (2014-2019), whichever is earlier," <keyword id="630312" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Airports-Economic-Regulatory-Authority-of-India">Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India</keyword> (AERA) said in its order. 

	Aeronautical revenue consists of charges such as aircraft landing and take-off fees, aircraft parking charges and passenger services fees. 
 

	"The revenue so collected by the airport operator (MIAL) during such period shall be adjusted from the Aggregate Revenue Requirement for the second control period, starting with effect from April 1, 2014," it said. 
 MIAL is a 74:26 joint venture between a GVK-led consortium and <keyword id="54875" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Airports-Authority-of-India">Airports Authority of India</keyword>. 

	The User Development Fee paid by passengers flying out of the Chhtrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) currently stands at Rs 274 for domestic departures and Rs 574 for the international ones. 
 

	As against a demand for an increase of 881 per cent, CSIA had got approval for a 164 per cent hike in aeronautical charges last time for the first control period. 
 

	AERA had earlier extended the continuation of the existing tariff till rpt till August 31, suggesting that it has not been able to come up with its consultation paper on tariff revision for Mumbai airport. 
 

	AERA has to prepare a consultation paper and invite feedback from stakeholders, including MIAL, before finalising the revised tariff.

	 
	 
	(Image credits: Indiatimes)

Mumbai Airport has to wait for revised airport charges: AERA

<keyword id="112831" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Hyderabad-airport">Hyderabad airport</keyword> will now charge User Development Fee (<keyword id="6361745" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="UDF">UDF</keyword>) for international and domestic passengers. 
 
While domestic passengers will have to pay UDF of Rs 430 per flight ticket, international passengers will pay about Rs 1,700 per flight ticket from November 3, 2015. These charges will also attract about 14 per cent service tax. The Directorate General of <keyword id="6368649" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Civil-aviation">Civil Aviation</keyword> (DGCA) issued an Airline Information circular after the High Court in Hyderabad allowed Hyderabad Airport to charge UDF, which was stopped post an Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (<keyword id="6612775" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="AERA">AERA</keyword>) order. 
 
The AERA had withdrawn UDF from Hyderabad airport after its decision to calculate charges based on the Single Till model and not the Dual Till model that was followed before the aviation regulator came into the picture. 
In the Single Till model, both aeronautical and non-aeronautical revenues are considered to decide on charges whereas in the Dual Till aero revenues are taken into consideration to calculate aeronautical charges and non-aeronautical revenues to calculate non-aeronautical charges. 
 
In the Dual Till model, passengers end up paying more and AERA had, hence, adopted the Single Till model. 
 
(Image credits: southheadlines)

Plan to fly in or out of Hyderabad anytime soon? You need to read this

Mumbai, Mar 9 () Four AAI-run airports have been adjudged among the best aerodromes in the world, winning 10 awards in four different categories at the 2019 ASQ awards.ASQ is a globally established programme that measures passengers' satisfaction while travelling through an airport. Airports Council International (ACI), which is an independent agency of airport operators, carries out international benchmarking of aerodromes."Four AAI airports -- Chandigarh, Mangaluru, Trivandrum and Lucknow -- have been adjudged the best in the world in recently announced 2019 ASQ awards. These airports won 10 awards in four categories," Airports Authority of India (AAI) said in a release on Monday.The survey measures passengers' satisfaction across 34 key performance indicators that includes eight major categories such as access, check-in, security, airport facilities, food and beverage, retail, airport environment and arrival services.The four categories in which these airports bagged the best airport awards were size and region, environment and ambience, customer service and infrastructure and facilitation, as per the AAI.It was carried out at around 356 airports across North America, Latin America and Caribbean, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia.The survey results are monitored by airports tariff regulator AERA, NITI Aayog and civil aviation ministey, it added. IAS RAM BALBAL

Four AAI airports among best aerodromes in world

New Delhi/ Mumbai, Mar 12 () Hundreds of cancelled flights, decline in daily ticket bookings, fall in footfalls at airport shops and spike in expenses continue to rattle the country's aviation space as airlines, with weakened financials, and airport operators grapple with coronavirus headwinds.With mounting travel restrictions across the world, including in India, the tailwind of sharp plunge in crude oil prices seems to fade in the background of excess seat and fleet capacity in the airline industry, according to experts.More than 490 flights operated by foreign carriers to and from India have been cancelled for varying periods of time while the count of weekly flights cancelled by domestic airlines is more than 90, as per official data. The number of cancelled flights on international routes is expected to rise as India has also suspended all visas, except a few categories such as diplomatic and employment, till April 15 as part of efforts to curb spreading of coronavirus infections.Data shared by aviation consultancy CAPA showed that capacity or the number of seats available weekly on various international flight routes connecting India has significantly come down for the week that started on March 9 compared to the situation in December last year. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said the number of international passengers arriving at the country's airports has come down to around 62,000 per day from 70,000 in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.According to him, the count might further come down to around 40,000 following the travel advisory issued on Wednesday. There are 30 international airports in the country. From being "nimble in approach" to adverse impact on quarterly earnings, domestic carriers have already flagged their concerns about coronavirus impact on their businesses. The Association of Private Airport Operators (APAO) has flagged various problems in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, including that of "less sales at the Food and Beverage, and retail outlets" at aerodromes. In a letter to the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday, the grouping also said airport operators are now required to significantly beef up manpower deployment as well as make expenditure on items like masks, sanitisers and floor cleaners, in order to ensure compliance with various government advisories. Further, APAO has sought approval for "levying of a nominal passenger facilitation charge as part of airline fares to cover increased operating expenses being incurred by the operators", as per the letter. It has also sought provisioning of an "airport operator alleviation package by AERA to facilitate the growing operational expenses". Regulator AERA fixes tariffs for certain categories of airports. Referring to the government's decision to suspend visas from March 13 till April 15, CAPA said the ban would cripple the aviation industry with very serious impact on airlines with weaker balance sheet. Overall, it would be a "serious blow" to the aviation industry, CAPA CEO (South Asia) Kapil Kaul told .Peak travel period, which generally starts from April, would be impacted. A senior airline industry official said domestic air traffic might start increasing as the people who had planned their vacations abroad could visit domestic destinations. Full service carrier Vistara, on Thursday, said business on some of its international and domestic routes has been impacted by coronavirus outbreak. "At Vistara, we are reviewing the situation everyday and remain nimble in our approach," an airline spokesperson said. On Wednesday, the country's largest airline IndiGo said it was expecting quarterly earnings to be adversely impacted as daily bookings have declined 15-20 per cent in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The airline has also suspended Staff Leisure Travel (SLT) to certain countries, including China, Singapore and Hong Kong. SpiceJet Chairman and Managing Director Ajay Singh said the aviation sector is under a lot of pressure but that was "temporary". "SpiceJet is far better placed than many others to weather this turbulence. I firmly believe that this is an opportunity for SpiceJet, for the government and the aviation ecosystem to create more efficient and viable structures for the growth that lies ahead. "... the Indian aviation market and especially our domestic market has immense potential and will remain amongst the fastest growing in the world," he said on Thursday. On the positive, an airline official said excess international capacity can be redeployed on domestic routes and that fall in oil prices, which account for around 40 per cent of operational costs, is a silver lining. IAS RAM ANUANU

Coronavirus headwinds rattle airlines, airports; lower passenger numbers, restrictions take toll

ProlitecAmazon Alexa can already turn off your lights and close your garage. Now it can also make your house smell like a Hawaiian vacation.Prolitec, which calls itself a "scenting services company," announced Monday that its Aera fragrance systems can now be voice controlled through the Amazon Echo smart speaker and other Alexa-compatible devices. The Aera systems offer eight different fragrances, which range from pink grapefruit to basmati rice. The fragrance capsules can operate 24 hours a day and run for a full 60 days. You can tell Alexa to turn Aera on, have Alexa raise or lower scent levels, or ask what the current scent levels are. If you already own an Aera, you can get it to work with Alexa by enabling the Aera skill in your Amazon Alexa app.Aera is only the latest attempt to offer smart scents. In the 1950's Hans Laube invented a "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smell-O-Vision">Smell-O-Vision</a>" system for automated odor releases during movies. (Because who wouldn't want to smell King Kong as he swings through New York?) And for the last 20 years, various companies have experimented with digitized scents that could be embedded in email or web pages. Although the Aera for Alexa command probably isn't quite what Laube was envisioning, it is yet another step forward for total smart home integration. <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-echo-look-judge-style-outfits-2017-4">Everything you need to know about Echo Look - Amazon's new device that will judge the way you dress</a></h3> Please enable Javascript to watch this video

You can now tell Amazon's Alexa to make your home smell better - here's how

A few days back, we had reported how <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Indian-Railways-is-not-in-the-pink-of-health-turnaround-hits-buffers/articleshow/58411600.cms">Indian Railways</a> is willing to offer a relief period of 60 years to <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Sixty-year-relief-period-to-private-investors-for-railway-stations-revamp/articleshow/57790089.cms">private investors</a> who invest in stations’ re-development. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Railways-to-ask-for-private-bids-for-manufacturing-modern-coaches/articleshow/58477985.cms">Railways to ask for private bids for manufacturing modern coaches</a> Now, <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Aviation-ministry-has-sent-its-Budget-2017-wishlist-to-Arun-Jaitely-Heres-what-they-expect/articleshow/56621000.cms">aviation ministry</a> is also looking forward to auction its future <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Govt-is-resurrecting-life-in-Indian-airports-to-spend-10-billion-on-infrastructure/articleshow/56498804.cms">airport</a> contracts to private operators after setting fixed tariffs, which would potentially enhance the number of serious bidders and cushion passengers against arbitrary increases in user fees. "Airport charges are revenues for airport operators and any change in it impacts their top-line. We would fix that in advance and make the bidders aware of it so that there are no uncertainties or surprises for the airport operators as well as passengers using the airport. In this case, charges will be pre-determined, and (the move) would require a change in the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) Act," a senior government official, told <a href="http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/aviation-ministry-may-auction-airport-contracts-to-private-players/articleshow/58523685.cms">ET</a>. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Indias-latest-airlines-Zoom-Air-is-all-set-to-fly-commercial-operations-from-Feb-15/articleshow/57141555.cms">India’s latest airlines ‘Zoom Air’ is all set to fly</a> The process to amend the AERA Act has been started by the aviation ministry. AERA is authorised to regulate <keyword id="113136" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Indian-airports">Indian airports</keyword>, and fix tariffs at all major airports, that have an annual footfall of at least 1.5 million passengers. As per sources, AERA and aviation ministry officials have already held a meeting, with AERA approving the proposal. Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Heres-everything-you-need-to-know-about-UDAN-flight-scheme/articleshow/58399593.cms">Here’s everything you need to know about UDAN flight scheme</a> "It would help the government get bids from a large number of serious players. Any transparency and clarity in airport projects would help bidders plan much better and I would want the government to bring as much clarity in bids as possible. A large number of international players were interested in the Navi Mumbai airport project but they did not bid, primarily, because of less clarity on bids post the award," said industry analyst Sanjay Sethi, CEO of Nestor Consulting, an infrastructure advisory.

After railways, aviation ministry is considering private players for building airports

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="12010812" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="princess-mako" source="Orion">Princess Mako</keyword> made a "dramatic exit" from Japan's royal family by marrying her college sweetheart. </li><li>Just like <keyword id="12101689" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="prince-harry-and-meghan-markle" source="Orion">Prince Harry and Meghan Markle</keyword>, she and her husband plan to start a new life in America. </li></ul>Japan's Princess Mako married her college sweetheart, Kei Komuro, on October 26 and <a href="https://www.insider.com/japan-princess-mako-marries-boyfriend-gives-up-royal-status-2021-10">in doing so renounced her royal title</a>. The move stirred controversy and even led to protests on the streets of Tokyo. <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/04/17/national/media-national/kei-komuro-meghan-markle-royalty/">Japanese outlets such as Japan Times</a> and <a href="https://dot.asahi.com/aera/2021032200039.html?page=1">Aera began comparing Mako and Komuro</a> to a certain former royal couple: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. But similarities between the couples are arguably few and far between. <div type="image" title="Princess Mako, the elder daughter of Prince Akishino and Princess Kiko, and her husband Kei Komuro, a university friend of Princess Mako, poses during a press conference to announce their wedding at Grand Arc Hotel on October 26, 2021 in Tokyo, Japan" height="4333" width="5778" msid="87492852" hostid="261"></div><h2>Both couples have a complicated relationship with the media</h2>Just after Mako and Komuro announced their engagement in 2017, reports that his mother was involved in a financial dispute led the <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/japans-empress-strikes-to-end-romance-of-naive-princessmako-hrvjq5hhd">Imperial Household to put the wedding on hold</a>, according to a 2018 Times of London article. Citing a report by the news magazine Shukan Shincho, the Times said Komuro's mother owed 4.3 million yen, or close to $38,000, to a businessman for a loan repayment.After the dispute, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/01/world/asia/japan-princess-mako-wedding.html">Komuro's image became that of a "gold digger,"</a> according to The New York Times.Speaking at the news conference after they married, Mako said "arbitrary criticism" and "incorrect" <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/overcoming-scandal-ptsd-japans-princess-mako-finally-marries-college-sweetheart-2021-10-26/">reporting about her husband made her feel</a> "great fear, stress, and sadness," Reuters reported. Her comments came weeks after the Imperial Household Agency announced <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/10/01/japanese-princess-diagnosed-ptsd-ahead-wedding-commoner/">she'd been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder</a> due to media speculation in the lead-up to her wedding, The Telegraph reported. Similarly, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spoken out about how they have been treated by the British tabloid media, though unlike Mako and Komuro, they have taken some media outlets to court.Markle won a number of <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-wins-copyright-claim-mail-on-sunday-2021-5">privacy and copyright claims</a> against the Mail on Sunday and Associated Newspapers earlier this year, after the publication published a private <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-wins-privacy-claim-against-mail-on-sunday-2021-2">letter she wrote to her father in February 2019</a>. And during Markle and Harry's Oprah Winfrey interview in March, they opened up about <a href="https://www.insider.com/harry-and-meghan-oprah-interview-racism-large-part-leaving-uk-2021-3">how racist and biased reporting among British tabloids</a> ultimately contributed to their decision to leave. Markle told Winfrey <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-reveals-suicidal-thoughts-oprah-interview-2021-3">she experienced suicidal thoughts</a> and "didn't want to be alive anymore" due to the criticism she faced."That was a clear and real and frightening and constant thought," she said, adding that she had approached a senior royal staff member about getting help for her mental health but was turned away. <div type="image" title="Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured leaving St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on their wedding day on May 19 2018." height="2391" width="3189" msid="87492853" hostid="261"></div><h2>Both couples had private wedding ceremonies, but Harry and Markle followed tradition</h2>Mako and Komuro's wedding involved far less fanfare than is typically associated with Japanese royal weddings. <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10130771/Japans-Princess-Mako-marries-commoner-loses-royal-status.html">Emperor Naruhito and his wife Empress Masako's 1993 wedding</a> saw the couple parade through central Tokyo while crowds of people waved behind, the Daily Mail reported.Forgoing a ceremony, reception, or traditional portraits, Mako and Komuro instead had an official from the Imperial Household register their union and gave a <a href="https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2021/10/0b8be1621cc2-princess-mako-to-only-give-written-answers-for-marriage-press-conf.html">short press conference, answering questions</a> in writing, according to Kyodo News. Harry and Markle said they had <a href="https://www.insider.com/oprah-interview-meghan-harry-private-wedding-wasnt-official-experts-say-2021-3">an intimate, secret ceremony three days before</a> their televised royal wedding, a lavish public celebration at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their royal wedding was attended by <a href="https://www.insider.com/celebrities-attending-royal-wedding-photos-2018-5#oprah-winfrey-1">celebrities including George Clooney and Serena Williams</a>, and the after party included <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/royal-wedding-after-party-what-happened-meghan-markle-prince-harry-2018-5?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">an Elton John performance</a>.<h2>Unlike the Sussexes, Mako and Komuro will live in a New York apartment</h2>Like Harry and Markle, who moved to North America after stepping back from royal life in January 2020, Mako and Komuro are planning to live in the US.Komuro has been <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10152047/Princess-Makos-new-husband-fails-New-York-bar-exam.html">working as a legal clerk in Manhattan</a> after his studies at Fordham University, the Daily Mail reported. On Saturday, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported <a href="https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20211030_15/">he failed his first attempt at the bar exam</a> but is said to be planning a February retake with Mako's support.The one-bedroom New York City apartment Mako and Komuro plan to move into will be very different from the luxurious, <a href="https://www.nippon.com/en/japan-topics/c06108/royal-real-estate-residences-and-other-properties-used-by-japan%E2%80%99s-imperial-family.html">538,000-square-foot Akasaka Estate</a>, where Mako grew up alongside other members of the Imperial Household, <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2021/10/28/japans-princess-mako-move-one-bed-new-york-flat-husband-losing/">The Telegraph reported</a>. As for Harry and Markle, they initially lived in a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meghan-markle-prince-harry-stayed-in-13-million-vancouver-mansion-2020-1?r=US&amp;IR=TIR=T">$13.26 million waterfront home on Vancouver Island</a> in Canada before relocating to <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-its-like-to-spend-the-day-in-montecito-california-2021-7">the exclusive town of Montecito, California</a>, in March 2020, where they now live in a <a href="https://www.insider.com/celebrity-homes-montecito-california-meghan-harry-2021-5#oprah-winfrey-owns-three-montecito-ranches-collectively-worth-almost-86-million-and-totaling-70-connected-acres-1">$14.7 million property.</a><div type="image" title="Harry Meghan interview 2" height="1078" width="1902" msid="87492855" hostid="261"></div><h2>Harry and Markle remain in the spotlight, but that might not be the case for Mako and Komuro</h2>While Markle and Harry have continued with their <a href="https://www.insider.com/prince-harry-pictured-playing-in-charity-polo-match-colorado-2021-8">charity work</a>, <a href="https://www.insider.com/prince-harry-meghan-markle-visit-nyc-photos-2021-9">attended public-speaking events</a>, aired <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-harry-interview-details-you-missed-2021-3">their Oprah interview</a>, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/meghan-markle-prince-harry-sign-production-deal-with-netflix-2020-9">signed a multiyear deal with Netflix</a> to produce documentaries and films, Ken Ruoff, director of the Center for Japanese Studies at Portland State University, <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2021/10/26/asia/royal-news-newsletter-10-26-21-scli-gbr-cmd-intl/index.html">told CNN that Mako and Komuro's "dramatic exit"</a> from royal life doesn't mean they plan to pursue life in the public eye."I think what's going to happen is they're just going to disappear," he said.Asked about <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/10/26/national/japan-princess-mako-marriage/">comparisons she gets to Markle and Harry</a> earlier this year, Mako said she didn't have any "particular thoughts" but that she only wants to live a "peaceful life," according to the Japan Times. <div type="image" title="Prince Harry (left) and Princess Mako (right)." height="960" width="1280" msid="87492857" hostid="261"></div><h2>Harry said he didn't get financial support from his family, while Mako refused hers</h2>Before her wedding, it was reported that Mako rejected <a href="https://www.insider.com/princess-mako-will-reject-wedding-payment-to-marry-college-sweetheart-2021-9">a $1.3 million payout</a> typically offered to female royal family members who leave the Imperial Household. By contrast, Harry has said that <a href="https://www.insider.com/prince-harry-cut-off-by-family-used-inheritance-from-diana-2021-3">his family financially cut him off</a> around the same time he and Markle announced they were stepping back, telling Winfrey during their interview that he'd been paying for his own security with the inheritance money his late mother, Princess Diana, left for him. "I've got what my mum left me, and without that, we would not have been able to do this," Harry said.

Like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Japan's Princess Mako left the royal world - but she and her husband plan to lead a totally different life

There was a long-standing legal tussle over <keyword id="179475" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-International-Airport-Pvt-Ltd">Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd</keyword> (DIAL) levying 96% higher charges on <keyword id="44023" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="airlines">airlines</keyword>, resulting in passengers being overcharged. The Supreme Court has now directed that the matter should end by end of next month, which means that it would become cheaper for passengers to fly in and out of Delhi. 
 
It was in December 2015 that the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) had slashed <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/IGI-airport-to-get-an-elevated-taxiway/articleshow/53432283.cms">Delhi Airport</a> charges by a steep 96% for the period starting from April 1, 2014, to March 31, 2019. Ideally, this should have resulted in an equally steep crash in airline charges and passenger fares, but DIAL continued to charge the earlier tariff, which proved heavy on the pockets of airlines and eventually, passengers. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/Self-bag-drop-service-at-Delhi-International-Airport/articleshow/53597853.cms">Passengers at Delhi International Airport to avail self-bag-drop service</a> 
 This led the <keyword id="47045" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi-Airport">Delhi Airport</keyword> operator to take the legal route, knocking the doors of the AERA Appellate Tribunal (AERAAT), but the matter remained pending for a long time. On January 24 this year, <keyword id="2573" type="CITY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Air-India">Air India</keyword> filed a special leave petition (SLP) in SC against DIAL. 
 
Also read: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.in/this-is-the-number-of-peoplewho-used-igi-airport-in-delhi-last-year/articleshow/56981453.cms">This is the number of people who used IGI airport in Delhi last year</a> 
 
Then, on February 23, a two-Judge bench of Supreme Court heard AI's petition, after which it directed AERAAT “to take up the matter at an early date so as to dispose of the same within a period of two months from today. As prayed, list the matter in the last week of April, 2017." 
 
(Image source: DealCurry)

Delhi folks set to get cheaper tickets to fly in and out of city

Flying out of <keyword id="67384" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="IGI-Airport">IGI Airport</keyword> here has got cheaper from today with the discontinuation of the development fee being charged from each passenger for the past several years. 
 <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="100" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword> International Airport Limited (DIAL), the joint venture company which runs the IGI airport, was allowed to levy Rs 100 per flight as Development Fee (DF) from passengers flying on domestic routes and Rs 600 from those flying to international destinations. 
 
The airports tariff regulator Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) had in February issued an order directing DIAL to discontinue DF from May 1, after having allowed it to levy DF through a December 2012 order. 
 
Citing the average monthly collection of Rs 30 crore as DF, the AERA had in its order in February said the total sanctioned DF amount of Rs 3,415.35 crore was likely to be recovered by April 30, 2016. To cover the financial gap in developing the airport, the allowable DF was determined at Rs 3,415.35 crore. 
 
Last month, Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) had also asked all airlines operating from Delhi to refund the development fee charged from passengers flying out of the IGI Airport on the tickets booked for journey beyond April 30. 
 DIAL is a joint venture between GMR group, <keyword id="54875" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="100" keywordseo="Airports-Authority-of-India">Airports Authority of India</keyword> and Germany's Fraport AG. 
 
Image credit: Indiatimes

Guess what? Flying out of IGI airport just got cheaper!

If you had booked your air ticket from Delhi to somewhere before 7th July, you may now get some refund. Thanks to a new rule, the steep user development fee (<keyword id="6361745" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="UDF">UDF</keyword>) has been drastically slashed. This fee was something you were paying while buying a ticket to fly from Delhi to both international and domestic destinations. "We will talk to the aviation ministry, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and other stakeholders next week. A decision will be taken after the meetings,” B S <keyword id="9268" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Bhullar">Bhullar</keyword>, chief of <keyword id="6354705" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Directorate-General-of-Civil-Aviation">Directorate General of Civil Aviation</keyword> (<keyword id="6354787" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="DGCA">DGCA</keyword>), told The Times of India. In a passenger-friendly move, the government has abolished UDF for incoming flyers at <keyword id="6356365" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="IGI">IGI</keyword> that, before July 7, was between Rs 462 and Rs 933 for a flyer coming from abroad and between Rs 207 and Rs 415 for a domestic passenger, according to a TOI news report. Now that the UDF has been brought down, a ticket for a Delhi-Paris/San Francisco-Delhi flight would have an UDF of Rs 54 instead of Rs 2,436 earlier. Similarly in domestic sector, <keyword id="280703" type="CITY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi-Chennai-Delhi">Delhi-Chennai-Delhi</keyword> tickets had an UDF rate of Rs 1,068, which would now be only Rs 12.

Airfares from Delhi are getting cheaper drastically. Here’s why

Two recent interventions brought to the fore the issues about pricing in an economy. The first of these pertains to the ongoing tussle between the Delhi government and the taxi aggregators like Ola and Uber, who engage in surge pricing. The second issue concerns to the Lok Sabha speech of the Minster of Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapati Raju while engaging in a debate on Demand for Grants for the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Tourism, which was approved by the House later. The issue there was guidelines to fix the prices to Rs. 2500 for an hour long flight or less as operators were seen charging way beyond the normal prices at certain times like during the Chennai Floods and Jat agitation. A pertinent question that arises is what is the role of the government if such a situation arises. Should it intervene to set right the prices? 
 
Ideally, the government is best left out of the procedure of deciding prices. It is because it is not in the best position to determine the prices for goods and services as it has limited knowledge of these. However, there is a case for intervention where the balance (between consumer interest and producer interest) is shifting in favour of producers, and they are using their power to charge exorbitant prices. In such a case the prices become exploitative and ideally some independent regulators, (if any) of the sectors should intervene to set right the prices. They can also issue guidelines to the operators for adjusting prices or limiting prices accordingly. 
 
The two issues need a closer scrutiny. In the case of taxi aggregators, like Ola and Uber the practice of surge pricing takes place once demand exceeds supply in a location. In such a scenario the surge pricing incentivizes the cab drivers to be on the road during this shortfall. A pertinent question to ask the regulators or even the government is at what level does the surge becomes exorbitant? Is it in principle unfair or is the price which is getting charged, i.e., 2X, 3X or even at 1.00001X (where X represents the normal price of the journey) unfair. The question is not just about prices but about fairness in a system. What is the fair price to charge to a consumer? Ideally, this is between a producer (taxi aggregator) and customer to decide but when exorbitant and exploitative prices are getting charged, which are beyond what is mandated by norms and guidelines, etc., there is a case for intervention. But then too the case is fairly weak for governments to intervene. At best regulators should intervene keeping the interest of consumers and producers in mind. 
 
The second issue of reduction of prices to 2500 Rs. for trips, which take less than an hour to complete, is laudable. However, making it mandatory could be detrimental. If the government works to reduce the cost structures, it could very easily enable masses to undertake air travel. The cost reduction is part of the draft civil aviation policy as well. However, this is pursued best through economic liberalization in the civil aviation industry. The government should also look at the industry dynamics at play here. The airline sector as it is very competitive in India. At present, a host of regulations and the nature of industry have an impact on industry have a bearing on industry profitability. These include airport charges mandated by the regulator of the sector AERA (Airports Economic Regulatory Authority) to operate in India. Another factor having a bearing on cost structure and profitability is the price of Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF). Other factors include intense competition in the sector and fulfilling operators' public service obligations which include flying to remote and often nonprofitable areas. Only now as ATF prices are down, have the airline companies become profitable. Also, there are regulations like 5/20 rule which mandate an airline to operate in India for five years and have a fleet of 20 airlines before it can fly in international route stifle entry of newer players. All these have a bearing on the industry structure and pricing of airline tickets. At present the prices don't seem to be supernormal however bringing them down by liberalization will help in the cause of making air travel accessible to people. 
 
One sees that pricing is an important area not only from the viewpoint of companies and industries but also from the viewpoint of consumer interest. It is where there is a provision and case for independent regulators in a free market system whose role is to ensure that market participants behave. The regulators should bring in the semblance of balance in the system by looking at the priorities of various groups and coming to conclusions pertaining to prices etc., accordingly in case of the situations, which mandates intervention. Over the next few years, issues such as these will be in the limelight. The role of regulators is critical in ascertaining that markets function not only according to the free market system but also ensuring that there is balance and fairness in how market participants behave. 
 
(The article is co-authored with Sankalp Sharma, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Competitiveness, India. Amit Kapoor is Chair, Institute for Competitiveness &amp; Editor of Thinkers. The views expressed are personal. Amit can be reached at <a href="mailto:amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in">amit.kapoor@competitiveness.in</a> and tweets @kautiliya) 
 
<a href="http://www.livemint.com/rf/Image-621x414/LiveMint/Period1/2015/05/08/Photos/bond.jpg">Image source</a>

You Searched For "AERA" and got 12 results

A major airport is the one having an annual capacity of 3.5 million passengers, says AERA (amendment) bill 2019

BI India Bureau

Mumbai Airport has to wait for revised airport charges: AERA

BI India Bureau

Plan to fly in or out of Hyderabad anytime soon? You need to read this

BI India Bureau

Four AAI airports among best aerodromes in world

PTI

Coronavirus headwinds rattle airlines, airports; lower passenger numbers, restrictions take toll

PTI

You can now tell Amazon's Alexa to make your home smell better - here's how

Caroline Cakebread

After railways, aviation ministry is considering private players for building airports

BI India Bureau

Like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Japan's Princess Mako left the royal world - but she and her husband plan to lead a totally different life

Maria Noyen

Delhi folks set to get cheaper tickets to fly in and out of city

BI India Bureau

Guess what? Flying out of IGI airport just got cheaper!

BI India Bureau

Airfares from Delhi are getting cheaper drastically. Here’s why

BI India Bureau

Governments and Pricing

Amit Kapoor

Popular Keywords

Buying Guides