Delhi airport slams doors on small planes

Mumbai: Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), now controlled by the GMR Group as a part of the government’s airport modernisation programme, has expressed its inability to accommodate additional smaller aircraft, which are widely used for regional connectivity.
Delhi Airport will not allow additional smaller planes from the winter of 2007-08. Small aircraft used for regional connections include ATRs, Bombardiers, Embraers and the Sukhoi Superjet 100.
DIAL’s decision might be followed by GVK group-controlled Mumbai International Airport (MIAL), the country’s busiest airport.
Confirming the development, a DIAL spokesperson said small aircraft movements (take-offs and landings) account for 10 per cent of the 650 aircraft movements a day. The industry estimates that with the regional airlines policy, at least 150 movements of small aircraft will be added in the next 12 months.
The decision is being taken to enhance revenues. As part of the government’s policy to encourage regional connectivity, most of these aircraft (below 40,000 kg) do not pay landing charges to the airports.
The move is expected to act as a dampener for the government’s recently announced policy to encourage regional airlines. That apart, even scheduled carriers, especially low-cost operators, have been adding in capacity to connect smaller cities with the major ones.
14/08/07 PR Sanjai/Business Standard

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Categories: Airports Aug 2007, General Aviation Aug 2007, New Aug 2007