Sharp increase in air passenger traffic to Coimbatore

Coimbatore's enhanced stature as an emerging information technology hub and an exporter of industrial goods has led to a sharp increase in air passenger traffic to the city. About 4,000 passengers pass through Coimbatore Airport every day. Until a few years ago, only Indian and Jet Air operated flights to Coimbatore. Today passengers are spoiled for choice with Paramount, Jetlite, Air Deccan, Kingfisher and Spicejet operating domestic flights and SilkAir, a regional wing of Singapore Airlines, Air India and Gulf Air operating international flights from Coimbatore Airport.
“The passenger movement has gone up by 26 per cent on an average this year compared to last year. We are expecting an increase of 30 per cent in the coming financial year. In some months, it touches 35 per cent,” said K. Hemalatha, Director, Coimbatore Airport, Airports Authority of India.
The city is going to have a modern airport with an extended runway by March in order to accommodate wide-bodied aircraft and cope with increasing traffic, she said. The Tamil Nadu government has been approached for acquiring land for the extension project. Construction of a parallel taxi track has been contemplated in order to minimise the runway occupancy time and turnaround time of aircraft.
30/01/08 T.S. Subramanian/Frontline

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Categories: Airports Jan 2008