**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Civil Aviation has announced an immediate 25% reduction in landing and parking charges for domestic carriers for a period of three months, effective April 8, 2026. This measure is a response to the operational challenges and rising fuel costs caused by the West Asia crisis. The intervention aims to ensure the financial viability of Indian airlines and maintain affordable air travel for passengers during global market volatility.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Relief Measures for Domestic Carriers**
* A 25% reduction in landing and parking charges has been implemented for all domestic flights.
* This reduction is applicable for a period of three months from the date of the announcement.
* The measure follows a previous intervention where Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) price hikes for domestic carriers were capped at 25%, despite global increases exceeding 100%.
**Regulatory Directives and Scope**
* The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) has been directed to reduce charges at all major airports under its purview.
* The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has been directed to apply the same 25% reduction at all non-major airports.
* Any under-recovery of revenue by individual airports resulting from these cuts will be adjusted during the tariff determination in the next five-year control period.
**Economic and Operational Impact**
* The reduction in charges is expected to save domestic airlines approximately ₹400 crore over the three-month period.
* The primary objective is to contain airfare increases and support the stability of the domestic aviation sector.
* The Ministry is monitoring the situation closely to determine if further measures are required to ensure safe and affordable air travel.
**Impact Analysis**
**Domestic Airline Carriers**
**Impact**
Airlines will benefit from a significant reduction in operational costs, specifically through lower landing and parking fees and moderated fuel price increases. This provides financial relief amidst global disruptions.
**Action Required**
Carriers should reflect these cost savings in their operational budgets and aim to maintain affordable airfares for passengers.
**Passengers**
**Impact**
Passengers benefit from the government's efforts to contain airfare hikes, ensuring that air travel remains a convenient and affordable travel option despite global crises.
**Action Required**
No direct action is required other than utilizing available domestic air services.
**Airport Operators (Major and Non-Major)**
**Impact**
Operators will experience a short-term reduction in revenue collection from landing and parking charges. However, they are permitted to recover these losses in the next five-year tariff control period.
**Action Required**
Operators must immediately implement the 25% reduction in charges as directed by AERA and AAI.
**Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI)**
**Impact**
These bodies are responsible for the regulatory oversight and implementation of the Ministry's directives across major and non-major airports.
**Action Required**
AERA and AAI must issue formal orders, ensure compliance at all airports under their purview, and manage the accounting for future under-recovery adjustments.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The primary government body responsible for formulating and implementing relief measures to stabilize the Indian domestic aviation sector amid global disruptions.
Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA): The regulatory body directed to implement a 25% reduction in landing and parking charges at major airports under its purview.
Airports Authority of India (AAI): The agency directed to apply a 25% reduction in landing and parking charges for domestic flights at all non-major airports.
Shri Ram Mohan Naidu: The Minister of Civil Aviation who announced the relief interventions to manage operational costs for domestic carriers.
Ministry of Civil Aviation
Civil Aviation Minister Shri Ram Mohan Naidu
announces relief measures for domestic
operations of Indian carriers
25% cut in landing & parking charges amid global disruptions
Posted On: 08 APR 2026 8:16PM by PIB Delhi
The unprecedented situation arising out of the ongoing West Asia crisis has posed significant challenges to
global aviation operations, including Indian carriers. However, the Indian domestic aviation sector
continues to remain resilient and robust, supported by timely and calibrated interventions by the
Government.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation, while closely monitoring the evolving situation, has undertaken a series of
measures to provide relief to domestic carriers. Earlier, the Government had announced the passing of
only a partial ATF price hike, capping the increase for domestic airlines at 25% only for domestic
operations. Whereas, globally the sharp spike in crude prices has led to a disproportionate rise in Aviation
Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices.
This step was aimed at enabling carriers to manage operational costs while ensuring that the benefits of
affordable air travel continue to reach passengers. Now, as part of a multi-layered response to these
unprecedented challenges, the Ministry has taken another significant decision to reduce landing and
parking charges for domestic carriers by 25% for a period of three months.
Speaking about the announcement, Minister of Civil Aviation, Shri Ram Mohan Naidu, expressed, “Under
the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the primary focus of the Government in the aviation
sector has been to make flying a more affordable and convenient travel option for passengers. Even in the
prevailing challenging situation, when global air operations are impacted, we have ensured that
cancellations and rising fuel costs do not severely affect the operations of our domestic carriers. While
ATF costs globally have risen by more than 100%, we have passed on only a moderated increase capped at
25%.”
Talking further about the interventions, Minister said “Now, with the ultimate aim of supporting airlines
and, in turn, passengers, airfare increases are being further contained by reducing landing and parking
charges levied by airport operators. This step is part of the Ministry’s overall effort to keep the aviation
sector stable during this volatile period and to ensure ease of flying for passengers. This is a significant
intervention to provide relief to airlines grappling with increasing operational costs. We are in constant
touch with all stakeholders, including airlines, airport operators, and the Airports Economic Regulatory
Authority of India (AERA), in this regard.”
The Ministry has issued directions to the AERA to reduce landing and parking charges by 25% from the
prevailing tariff at all major airports under its purview. This reduction has been brought into immediate
effect for all domestic flights and will remain applicable for a period of three months. The AERA hasissued an order to this effect, stating that any under-recovery by individual airports shall be adjusted
during tariff determination in the next control period of five years.
Similarly, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has also been directed to reduce landing and parking
charges at all its non-major airports by 25% of the approved rate. This reduction for all domestic flights
will also remain applicable for a period of three months.
These measures are expected to reduce landing and parking charges payable by airlines at major airports
during the three-month period by approximately ₹400 crore. The Ministry of Civil Aviation is keeping a
close watch on the evolving situation, and further necessary measures will be taken to ensure the viability
of air operations, as well as safe and affordable air travel for passengers.
****
Divyanshu Kumar
(Release ID: 2250262) Visitor Counter : 352
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