Bangalore airport delay: Carriers` expansion plans hit air pocket

New Delhi: The one-month delay in the opening of the new greenfield airport in Bangalore may affect the expansion plans of over a dozen-odd international as well as domestic and cargo carriers who were planning to introduce additional flights from the city.
While the opening of the new airport has got delayed, the existing airport has refused to allow any additional flights due to capacity constraints.
According to executives at Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL) the delay will force the carriers to operate new flights after one month of the summer season is over, leading to potential loss of revenue.
The main carriers that are expected to be hit are Air Mauritius, Tiger Airways, Oman Air, Dragon Air, Thai Airways, domestic carriers like Kingfisher and Simplifly Deccan, and cargo carriers QuikJet and Jett8.
According to estimates, nearly 100 additional planned weekly flights (domestic and international) may also be hit.
31/03/08 Anirban Chowdhury/Business Standard

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Mar 2008, New Mar 2008