AAI asks SpiceJet to pay extra Rs 70 lakh daily to clear dues

New Delhi: The government-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked SpiceJet to pay an additional Rs 70 lakh per day over and above the daily payment to clear its dues, totaling around Rs 150 crore.

AAI's per-day billing to SpiceJet towards landing, parking and other support services currently stands at Rs 1.30 crore, sources said on Thursday.

"We have sought an early clearance of the dues from SpiceJet, which are around Rs 150 crore. We have asked them to make an additional payment of Rs 70 lakh per day from today besides the daily billing of Rs 1.30 crore," sources told PTI.

The AAI is looking at recovering the entire dues of Rs 150 crore by the fiscal, they said. Earlier in April this year, the Gurgaon-based low-cost carrier had sought a three-year moratorium on the dues besides seeking a waiver on the interest against the dues.

The AAI had, however, turned down the plea. Confirming the developments, a SpiceJet spokesperson said the airline has agreed to the proposal. "We have started making additional payments as requested by the AAI," the spokesperson said.

SpiceJet, which is now under the ownership of its original co-founder Ajay Singh, had posted its second straight quarterly profit at Rs 71.8 crore in the April-June period of the current fiscal, helped by a steep 42 per cent reduction in costs and higher seat occupancy.

Singh took back the reins of the budget carrier early this year after acquiring the entire 58.46 per cent stake of Kalanithi Maran and Kal Airways Pvt Ltd in February as part of a revival plan.

However, a spokesperson stated, "A section of media is reporting that Airport Authority of India has asked SpiceJet to pay an additional daily amount. However we would like to clarify that SpiceJet has been paying to AAI, on daily basis the agreed amount of Rs.1.35 crore. Other than this we have not received any notice from AAI in this regard."