A congestion surcharge: Why on Passangers?
DNA has mentioned about the congestion tax that is being considered to be levied by airlines. This is to cover the costs that airlines have to born because of the air traffic congestion. The article nicely points out the various impacts on the aviation industry.
Few airlines have started thinking of charging passangers a congestion tax which could be Rs. 750/- per passanger per travel to cover the costs incurred because the flight needs to be hovered over the airport. This is becoming a frequent incidence solely because of the lack of infrastructure. There is no question that someone has to pay the airlines for this loss.
The question is who. The thought to levy the tax on passangers would just drove them away from the airlines and would force them to choose other modes of transport. Providing infrastructure is government's duty and hence government should be paying for the lack of it. Govt. is already collecting huge sum by direct and indirect taxes in various forms. It is a common man who gets hit everytime Govt. levies some tax. Why couldn't these airlines make Govt. pay for this lacking infrastructure? Why don't they have contracts with the aviation authorities that has the penalty clauses for both parties. If a flight needs to make rounds over the airport, because the flight was delayed on account of airlines fault, airline should pay penalty to the aviation authorities. And if it is because of the unavailability of the runway, then authorities should pay to the airlines.
I know this could ultimately means passing the bucks from air travellers to the common tax payers. But finally at some point Govt. would need to account for all the penalty paid to the airlines at some point. CAG could be the point where Govt. will have to answer the questions and that may bring some accountability to the government and Govt. may be forced to take some initiatives in improving the infrastructure.
But if the airlines start charging travellers, I doubt, if Govt. would ever look at improving the infrastructure.
Ref: Airline Travel in India hits a wall - Santosh's blog
Few airlines have started thinking of charging passangers a congestion tax which could be Rs. 750/- per passanger per travel to cover the costs incurred because the flight needs to be hovered over the airport. This is becoming a frequent incidence solely because of the lack of infrastructure. There is no question that someone has to pay the airlines for this loss.
The question is who. The thought to levy the tax on passangers would just drove them away from the airlines and would force them to choose other modes of transport. Providing infrastructure is government's duty and hence government should be paying for the lack of it. Govt. is already collecting huge sum by direct and indirect taxes in various forms. It is a common man who gets hit everytime Govt. levies some tax. Why couldn't these airlines make Govt. pay for this lacking infrastructure? Why don't they have contracts with the aviation authorities that has the penalty clauses for both parties. If a flight needs to make rounds over the airport, because the flight was delayed on account of airlines fault, airline should pay penalty to the aviation authorities. And if it is because of the unavailability of the runway, then authorities should pay to the airlines.
I know this could ultimately means passing the bucks from air travellers to the common tax payers. But finally at some point Govt. would need to account for all the penalty paid to the airlines at some point. CAG could be the point where Govt. will have to answer the questions and that may bring some accountability to the government and Govt. may be forced to take some initiatives in improving the infrastructure.
But if the airlines start charging travellers, I doubt, if Govt. would ever look at improving the infrastructure.
Ref: Airline Travel in India hits a wall - Santosh's blog
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