Holbrooke flight delayed for non-payment of fees: Wiki

A peeved US embassy had then proposed that the US government may consider cancellation of a high-level visit to India to illustrate that India will pay a price for failing to extend courtesy to US government aircraft.

The US embassy faced a difficult time when a top US diplomats government aircraft was held on the tarmac at the Defence airport in Palam Air Base for non-payment of airport fees. A peeved US embassy had then proposed that the US government may consider cancellation of a high-level visit to India to illustrate that India will pay a price for failing to extend courtesy to US government aircraft.

Special Representative (Af-Pak) Richard Holbrookes departure from the IAFs base in March,2009 was delayed as the US government aircraft carrying him did not have requisite clearances,revealed a US embassy cable released by WikiLeaks.

The aircraft was held following a change in the External Affairs Ministrys policy in 2007,which directed all the US government aircraft visiting India,without any explicit invitation,to pay airport fees related to parking,landing and navigation. The flight was released following personal intervention of a top MEA official.

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In another instance in June,2009,the embassy was forced to cancel an embassy support flight after it was unable to secure credit clearance from the privately-run Delhi airport operator Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL).

Absent effective MEA intervention with DIAL or the authorization to pay any fees,the embassy recommended the cancellation of the June 14 support flight on June 13 at approximately 6 pm, the cable noted.

The DIAL had set a deadline of April 30 for clearing airport dues,making it clear that credit would not be extended for fees levied on US government state aircraft. The message indicated that absent the settlement of outstanding dues,the US Air Force could only operate from IGI Airport on cash and carry basis with immediate effect, the letter from DIAL to the US embassy said. The government pegged airport related dues at $1,81,622,of which dues to DIAL alone accounted for $80,000.

The embassy felt that the new policy was unworkable as the volume of official visits to India involving the US government aircraft is already large and growing. It estimated the airport charges to be $1,219 per flight. Upon an unofficial advice of the MEA official,the embassy sought permission from the US to clear outstanding bills for private operators to facilitate USG (US government) business.