Airfare hike not tied to increased airport charges; ACI

19 Sep 2024 CW Team

The Airports Council International (ACI) stated that rising airfares are not linked to increased airport charges. Airport charges are crucial for infrastructure development within the commercial aviation ecosystem, but they remain a minimal part of the overall airfare. Stefano Baronci, Director General of ACI Asia Pacific & Middle East, emphasized that airports are infrastructure-intensive businesses, with costs dominated by maintaining essential infrastructure such as runways, taxiways, aprons, and terminal buildings. He noted that neglecting the capital expenditure needed to support future growth could lead to serious socio-economic consequences.

ACI, which includes 133 airport operators managing 624 airports across 47 countries—including India and the Airports Authority of India (AAI)—responded to concerns raised by the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) over increasing airport charges. IATA recently cautioned countries, including India, to be mindful of rising charges. Despite significant investments in India's airport infrastructure, IATA's Director General, Willie Walsh, expressed worries about the rising costs, as tariffs for major airports are regulated by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) and have recently increased at some airports.

However, Baronci argued that the impact of airport charges on consumers is negligible, comprising only about 5.1% of the base airfare and ancillary fees. ACI projects that air traffic in the Asia-Pacific region will surge to 8 billion by 2042, up from 3 billion currently. India, one of the world's fastest-growing aviation markets with 157 operational airports, is anticipated to be the second fastest-growing market in the region.

(ET)

Real Estate

08 May 2026

Integrated Waterproofing Strategies

Waterproofing buildings used to be an annual pre-monsoon affair but the evolution of real-estate development has changed that approach. In new developments, developers are weaving waterproofing solutions into both the design and construction phases, an approach that Nikhil Madan, Managing Director, Mahima Group, says, “is all about ensuring lasting durability [of the building] and keeping lifecycle risks including water seepage and extensive maintenance to a minimum.”Watertight by designAluminium formwork systems aren’t commonly thought of as a waterproofing tool but at the Mahima Group,..

GROHE Showcases Water-Led Design At Milan

GROHE unveiled its GROHE SPA Aqua Sanctuary at Milan Design Week 2026, transforming Piccolo Teatro Studio Melato into an immersive showcase of water, design and wellbeing. Built on the philosophy of ‘Wellbeing Through Water’, the installation reimagined bathrooms as holistic spaces for relaxation, rejuvenation and self-care.The Aqua Sanctuary was presented through three interconnected sanctums. The first showcased the 3D-printed GROHE SPA AquaTree shower and faucet, highlighting bespoke innovation and biophilic design. The second featured the Atrio Private Collection and GROHE SPA x Buster..

Rahee Group Expands Rail Manufacturing Capacity

Rahee Group has outlined a multi-year investment roadmap to expand its operational footprint and strengthen manufacturing capabilities for India’s growing railway and urban transit sector. The Group is expanding in Odisha with a new Track Component Casting Unit, for which the groundbreaking ceremony was held on 8 April 2026 in the presence of Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.The Group’s flagship EPC arm, Rahee Infratech Ltd, continues to focus on complex rail infrastructure projects, including track systems, bridges, viaducts and ballastless infrastructure. Its wholly owned subsidi..