New Delhi: In a bid to provide some relief to airlines badly hit by the US-Iran war, the aviation ministry has directed 34 major airports to reduce their landing and parking charges for domestic flights by 25% for three months. Accordingly, the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) on Tuesday issued an order directing the operators of airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and several other places to do so for three months from Tuesday. The government is looking at ways to provide some relief to Indian carriers, most of which are struggling to survive. For this reason, the increase in domestic ATF was limited to 25% this month. With assembly elections round the corner in important states like Kerala and West Bengal, the aviation ministry is making every possible effort to ensure that at least the domestic airfare hike does not go against the grain. The ministry made a rare intervention into airport charges, given the fact that most of them are run on the PPP model.The order reads: “Landing and parking charges (part of aeronautical tariff) at all major airports will be reduced by 25% from the existing tariff. This reduction will come into effect with immediate effect and will be applicable on all domestic flights for a period of three months. The decision will be reviewed before the completion of the three month period. Any short recovery from the total revenue requirement will be met during tariff determination of the next control period.“This month, oil marketing PSUs increased aviation turbine fuel base price for domestic and international flights by over 25% and 100% respectively. Airspace restrictions in the West have forced airlines to take longer routes to Europe and the US, as well as fewer flights on lucrative Gulf routes and a weak rupee that has hit airlines hard. Air India Group and IndiGo have reduced their fuel surcharge.