Delay hits Hyd airport; Airlines deny asking for time

New Delhi: Commercial operations at the new Hyderabad airport will be delayed by at least a week.This became evident just a couple of hours after the formal inauguration of the airport at Shamshabad on the outskirts of Hyderabad by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Friday.
Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said the delay was due to operational reasons.
While the GMR initially insisted that the airport operations would be launched as per schedule on March 16, it later stated that the ministry was seeking more time and that the operations would begin soon.
Ministry sources indicated to Deccan Herald that airlines wanted more time to move their systems and other equipment from the old to the new airport which has caused the delay. However, contesting this, a SpiceJet official said: “It is wrong. At least we, as a major player, have not asked for time.”
An official from a foreign airline said: “We have already informed our passengers that they should use the new airport from Sunday. Now we have to make fresh announcements. This will be confusing.”
GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHAIL) said: “The New Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is ready in all aspects... ...We will intimate the new date and will commence operations soon.”
15/03/08 B S Arun/Deccan Herald

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Categories: Airports Mar 2008, New Mar 2008