Visakhapatnam: “There isn’t much demand for 24/7 operations at the moment. Let the airline operators come with proposals, we can open the airport 24/7 at short notice”. This was the reply of Defence Minister A.K. Antony to the letter of Union Minister V. Kishore Chandra Deo more than three years ago, when the latter sought extension of watch hours at the airport.
Several months ago the additional manpower needed for round-the-clock operations was sanctioned and all the required facilities were put in place.
But even today the Navy, which takes care of the Air Traffic Control (ATC), seems reluctant to extend the watch hours despite receiving requests from both the domestic and international operators. The Navy instead of honouring its commitment of extending watch hours based on the demand, is now advising the airline operators to change their schedules so that the 24/7 operations, presently available thrice a week, are not ‘under utilised’.
“Airline carriers are shying away from Visakhapatnam due to this attitude of the Navy. The Air India flight to Dubai and the Silk Air direct flight to Singapore are getting very good patronage and more operators are evincing keen interest in operating from Vizag,” says Airport Advisory Committee Member O. Naresh Kumar.
08/09/13 B. Madhu Gopal/The Hindu
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Several months ago the additional manpower needed for round-the-clock operations was sanctioned and all the required facilities were put in place.
But even today the Navy, which takes care of the Air Traffic Control (ATC), seems reluctant to extend the watch hours despite receiving requests from both the domestic and international operators. The Navy instead of honouring its commitment of extending watch hours based on the demand, is now advising the airline operators to change their schedules so that the 24/7 operations, presently available thrice a week, are not ‘under utilised’.
“Airline carriers are shying away from Visakhapatnam due to this attitude of the Navy. The Air India flight to Dubai and the Silk Air direct flight to Singapore are getting very good patronage and more operators are evincing keen interest in operating from Vizag,” says Airport Advisory Committee Member O. Naresh Kumar.
08/09/13 B. Madhu Gopal/The Hindu
