Thursday, August 4 2005 19:48 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Leading private airline Jet Airways tops the list of defaulters among private carriers and owes Rs 2,437.90 lakh to the government, the Lok Sabha informed today (August 4, 2005).

Replying to questions, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said that while Jet Airways owed Rs 2,437.90 lakh, Sahara Airlines had to pay Rs 1,115.25 lakh to the government as on March 31, 2005.

He said dues are monitored regularly by Airports Authority of India and action through legal or arbitration or the Public Premises (PPE) Act are taken wherever necessary.

Patel said besides this, interest is levied for the overdue period on defaulting airlines and they are put on operation on cash-and-carry basis.

The Minister said the government was also adjusting the security deposits of some of the private airlines for recovering the outstanding amount, details of which were being collected.

Besides these two airlines, defunct East West Airlines owes Rs 1,622 lakh, NEPC Airlines Rs 354.98 lakh, Skyline NEPC Rs 166.1 lakh, Elbee Airlines Rs 95.76 lakh, Continental Aviation Rs 184 lakh, VIF Airways Rs 24.79 lakh, Archana Airways Rs 39.22 lakh, Air Deccan Rs 628.05 lakh, Jagson Airlines Rs 114.18 lakh, Blue Dart Rs 36.33 lakh, Gujarat Airways Rs 11.47 lakh, Mesco Airlines Rs 306.23 lakh and UP Airways Rs 14.28 lakh.

In reply to another question, he said the market share of Indian Airlines had falled from 43.3 per cent in 2002-03 to 37.1 per cent in 2004-05 due to induction of private airlines.