India’s airport infrastructure sector,which reported operating losses last year has registered a turnaround since June this financial year, according to a report of ICRA Ltd, (a Moody’s Investor Service company). During the period, the sector registered an operating profit of Rs 3200 crores.
Domestic passenger traffic has increased consecutively for five months after the slowdown witnessed in April and May 2021 due to second wave of pandemic. The easing of Covid-19 restrictions by state governments, dip in new covid infections, healthy pace of vaccination and pickup in leisure travel has resulted in sequential domestic passenger traffic growth during June 2021 – October 2021 with the same reaching 17.3 million in October 2021 (highest since the start of pandemic in March 2020).
Giving more insights, Mr. Rajeshwar Burla, group head, corporate ratings, ICRA, says, “As per ICRA’s base case scenario, the passenger traffic growth is now estimated at 82%-84% Y-o-Y in FY2022 as against earlier projection of 71%-73% Y-o-Y. This is factoring in the assumption that impact of third wave (if any) to be low due to mass vaccination. In the recently released tariff orders for some of the major private airports, Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) has acknowledged the adverse impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the airport operators. The true-up of traffic for FY2021 has been considered in current control period. Further, considering the impact of second wave of pandemic on air traffic in Q1 FY2022, the regulator has decided not to increase the tariff for FY2022 as the sector is in the recovery phase and increase in tariffs had made with effect from April 1, 2022. Given the low traffic on one side and ongoing/upcoming capacity expansion plans at major private airports on the other side, the decision to continue with same tariff for FY2022 is expected to impact the airport operators temporarily
ICRA notes that due to Covid-19 pandemic, the ongoing capacity expansion plans at the major airports are expected to be delayed by 12 to 18 months. The completion cost is expected to increase due to increase in interest duringconstruction (IDC) as some of the airports have funded capex with bullet bonds which have been drawn down at once. Although the ramp-up in domestic passenger traffic has been steady since second wave of pandemic, ban on international commercial operations since March 2020 and the rise in Covid infections again in Europe and other international regions is expected to delay the recovery of international traffic. However, the same is expected to recover back to pre-Covid levels by FY2024
“The sector’s operating income (OI) and operating profits are estimated at Rs. 14,000 crores and Rs. 3,250 crores (operating loss of Rs.1450 crores in FY2021) respectively in FY2022.
However, the outlook on the airport infrastructure continues to remain Negative. ICRA expects domestic air travel to recover back to pre-Covid levels by FY2023 and the international sector by FY2024,” Mr. Burla added.