GoAir ordered to pay USD 3.6 mil to MIRA

The Civil Court has ordered India’s GoAir to pay $3.6 million to the Maldives Inland Revenue Authority (MIRA) within a month.

The verdict was passed on June 03rd.

MIRA, in its lawsuit against GoAir, sought to claim USD 3,580,588 in outstanding airport service charge, departure tax, and airport development fee in accordance to the Air Taxes and Fees Act.

The Civil Court in its order, demanded the now bankrupt carrier to settle the amount within one month from the date of the verdict.

As per the Civil Court order, GoAir is liable to pay outstanding departure tax from October 28, 2018 up to its last operational date, and airport development fee from April 2022 to March 2023.

According to the Air Taxes and Fees Act, and its supporting regulations the following charges are levied as departure tax;

• $30 per foreign passenger in economy class, $12 per local passenger 

• $60 per passenger in business class

• $90 per passenger in first class

• $120 per passenger in private jets

Airport development fee:

• $25 per foreign passenger in economy class, $12 per local passenger

• $60 per passenger in business class

• $90 per passenger in first class

• $120 per passenger in private jets

Besides failing to appear in court for trial despite chargesheet and multiple summoning issued to GoAir’s local address, the carrier did not file any defence motion as well. The Civil Court issued the order in absentia of the airline.

GoAir operated scheduled flights to Maldives before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, and resumed operations later the same year before it announced a cease of operations in March 2023.