Taking flight from and to Mumbai might cost you more

Air travellers from and to Mumbai are in for some unpleasant news.

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Air travellers are in for some unpleasant news. If you are taking a flight to Mumbai or from Mumbai, you might have to shell out more money as per a newspaper report.

The Economic Times has reported that flying in and out of Mumbai is set to get expensive as its airport has run out of landing slots owing to which the airlines may hike travel charges to offset their cost.

From yesterday flyers from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport were also charged additional levy of up to Rs 120, to fund the metro rail connectivity to the aerodrome, coming into effect from tomorrow.

Tariff regulator Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) had in January this year allowed Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to charge an additional levy of Rs 20 from each domestic flier and Rs 120 from each international traveller as development fee to fund a metro rail project.

The additional levy would be applicable from April 1, 2016 and remain in force till March 31, 2021, AERA had said in its order.

MIAL is a 26:74 joint venture between the GVK group led consortium and the Airports Authority of India.

The private airport operator currently levies a development fee of Rs 600 from an international passenger and Rs 100 from a domestic traveller.