Airlines, staff want existing airports to stay

New Delhi: Even as the date for the two new state-of-the-art international airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad to start operations comes closer, lobbying to prevent closure of the existing facilities - at the Airport Authority of India's Begumpet airport in Hyderabad and HAL airport in Bangalore - has got louder.
Senior government sources say many local members of Parliament, airlines, resident welfare organisations and staff at the existing airports are protesting against full closure on various grounds.
The contracts with Bangalore International Airport Ltd and Hyderabad International Airport Ltd provide for closure of the existing facilities when the new airports start.
The official says the ministry will discuss with the new operators to see if the old facilities can still be used by low-cost carriers or for general aviation.
Sources said the protests had been festering for some time but have got more audible with the closure date approaching. The airports are expected to start by March 2008.
20/11/07 Anjuli Bhargava/Business Standard

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Categories: Airports Nov 2007, New Nov 2007