NOIDA: Airports Economic Regulatory Authority held a stakeholder meeting on Monday to finalise user tariff rates for domestic and international flyers at Noida International Airport, as it prepares to begin flight operations.AERA sought comments from all stakeolders by April 17 before the tariff is finalised, with the charges to remain in force for a five-year control period till March 31, 2031.During Monday’s meeting, Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPL) made a detailed presentation on the project status and proposed tariff structure. Representatives from various airlines were part of the meeting.Following the discussions, AERA has invited written comments from stakeholders by April 7 and counter-comments by April 17, after which the tariff order will be finalised.In Aug 2025, the regulator issued a draft order proposing provisional tariffs for the five-year period — Rs 210 to Rs 980 as user development fee (UDF) for flyers. These tariffs cover charges levied on airlines and cargo operators for the use of airport infrastructure, including runways, terminals and parking facilities. These rates are a key component in determining airline operating costs and, indirectly, passenger fares. The airport is slated for inauguration on March 28 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.Categorised as a major airport under the AERA Act 2008 (read with AERA (Amendment) Act 2019 and 2021), the project has been developed by YIAPL under the design, build, finance, operate and transfer model.YIAPL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Zurich Airport International AG, which secured the concession in Oct 2020.YIAPL initially submitted its multi-year tariff proposal in Feb 2024, assuming a commercial operations date (COD) of Dec 1, 2024. However, subsequent project delays led to a revised target of April 30, 2025, which was also deferred. In view of these delays, AERA has now proposed shifting the COD to April 1, 2026, aligning the tariff control period with the financial year and ensuring a full five-year cycle.The concession agreement envisages the development of the airport as a world-class aviation hub with modular and scalable infrastructure for both passenger and cargo operations. Expansion will be undertaken in phases based on traffic growth, with defined capacity thresholds for each stage.AERA, while determining aeronautical tariffs, takes into account factors such as capital expenditure, quality of service, operational efficiency, financial viability, and revenue from non-aeronautical streams.
