To provide short-term relief to the aviation industry, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India has announced a 25 per cent reduction in landing and parking charges for domestic flights at major airports across the country.
According to an official order, the reduced charges will come into effect immediately and will remain in force for a period of three months. The regulator has said the measure is temporary and will be reviewed at the end of the three-month period to determine whether the relief needs to be extended or revised.
Landing and parking charges form an important component of the operational costs borne by airlines. The reduction is therefore expected to provide some financial breathing space for carriers operating domestic routes, many of which have been contending with rising fuel costs and other operational pressures.
Industry analysts say the decision could help ease short-term cost burdens for airlines that rely on high aircraft utilisation and frequent airport operations. By lowering these charges, the regulator aims to support airlines' financial stability while the sector continues to navigate a challenging cost environment.
The benefit will apply to all major airports that fall under AERA's regulatory jurisdiction, ensuring that the relief is extended across key aviation hubs in the country. Domestic carriers are expected to be the primary beneficiaries of the move, given their extensive presence across the domestic aviation network.
The aviation regulator has emphasised that the reduction is a temporary intervention designed to stabilise the sector. After three months, AERA will assess prevailing market conditions, airline financial health and broader industry dynamics before deciding on the future course of action.