Small airport flies high

Patna: The tag of one of the most dangerous places to land in the country notwithstanding, Jaiprakash Narayan International Airport has witnessed a phenomenal growth in passenger flow in the first three quarters of the current fiscal (2010-11).
The city airport handled 6,21,123 passengers till December last year, 68,783 more than total passengers it catered to in 2009-10. Total 5,52,440 passengers used the airport last fiscal.
Experts attributed the growth in the passenger flow at the airport to the arrival of low-cost airlines to the city and better law and order situation in the state during the NDA regime. With the option of flying at less available, more people are travelling in planes. On the other hand, Biharis settled outside the state are flying back home more frequently because of improved law and order situation in the state.
Besides the rise in passenger flow, movement of aircraft from the airport also reflected the growth trend. The airport had handled 7,448 flights in 2009-10 and the figure has crossed the 7,100-mark (7178) in the first nine months of current fiscal (2010-11).
Expressing happiness over the growth trend in the current fiscal, Patna airport director Arvind Dubey said: “The entry of low-cost operators has contributed in a big way as far as growth in passengers’ flow is concerned. Several people who earlier used to travel by train are now opting to take the aerial route.”
22/02/11 Sanjeev Kumar Verma/The Telegrpah

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Categories: Airports Feb 2011