Pvt airlines owe Rs 352 crore to AAI

New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Private airlines owe Rs 352crore to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) of whichKingfisher Airlines, which has the second largest market sharein terms of passenger traffic, has a due of around Rs 257crore.

Kingfisher owes Rs 257.62 crore to the AAI, while JetAirways Rs 38.49 crore and its low cost arm JetLite Rs 13.96crore, as on January 31, Civil Aviation Minister and Ministerfor Overseas Affairs Vayalar Ravi informed the Rajya Sabhatoday.

Low cost carriers, SpiceJet has a due of Rs 16.99crore, while IndiGo owes Rs 13.29 crore and Go Air Rs 6.77crore.

Paramount Airways, which stopped operations in Augustlast year, owes Rs 4.88 crore to the AAI as landing fee,parking fee, airport charge and other heads.

He said that continuous monitoring is done by the AAIto ensure that the airlines pay their dues in time, and incase of default in payment by the airlines, measures likecharging of penal interest, withdrawal of credit facility andputting the airline on ''cash and carry'' basis.

Last year, Jet and JetLite combine had 26 per centmarket share in terms of passenger traffic, while Kingfisherhad 20.60 per cent, followed by no frill carrier IndiGo -which has a share of 16.3 per cent, Spice Jet has 12.9 percent and Go Air had just 5.9 per cent.