107 AAI airports incurred loss of Rs 2,948.97 crore in FY2020-21: VK Singh

• According to the data shared by Singh in the Lok Sabha, a total of 107 AAI airports incurred losses in FY2020-21, 92 airports in FY2019-20 and 102 airports in FY 2018-19
• Out of 29 profitable airports, 19 managed to just break even, meaning they reported a profit of Rs 0 in FY 2020-21

New Delhi: Out of 136 airports operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), 107 airports incurred losses and the total loss recorded by these airports was Rs 2,948.97 crore in FY2020-21, said Minister of State (MoS) for Civil Aviation General (Retd) VK Singh. In a written response to a question raised in the Lok Sabha on August 5, the minister said, "… about 75 percent of Airports Authority of India (AAI) operated airports are incurring losses." According to the data shared by Singh in the Lok Sabha, a total of 107 AAI airports incurred losses in FY2020-21, 92 airports in FY2019-20 and 102 airports in FY 2018-19. 

Out of 29 profitable airports, 19 managed to just break even, meaning they reported a profit of Rs 0 in FY 2020-21, the data showed.

AAI airports' cumulative loss 115% higher in FY 2020-21 y-o-y

The total loss incurred by 107 loss-making AAI airports in FY 2020-21 was Rs 2,948.97 crore, which was around 115 percent higher than the loss reported by 92 airports in FY 2019-20 at Rs 1,372.35 crore. In FY 2018-19, the total loss recorded by 102 AAI airports was Rs 1,646.66 crore. Because of a sharp decline in passenger traffic in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic first wave and second wave, most airports have reported losses. 

No rise in tariff in last 3 years at 22 major airports: VK Singh

The minister also told the Lok Sabha that out of 24 major airports regulated by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), there has been no increase in tariff at 22 airports in the last three years. At two airports — Bhubaneswar and Patna — tariff has been increased, said the minister.

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