Backed by more than 20 years of experience in the airport sector, Vinod Kumar Sharma now holds the reins of Visakhapatnam airport, which is witnessing a huge surge in passenger traffic. The science graduate with a masters in public administration joined the Airports Authority of India in 1989. Previously, he was posted as the joint general manager, security, at the corporate headquarters in Delhi. Sharma was appointed director of Vizag airport in May this year. With Vizag airport witnessing 45% increase in international and domestic traffic and more than 8 lakh air traffic passengers in the first half of the current fiscal, Sharma is now focusing on increasing connectivity to other destinations. In an interview with Manish of TOI, Vinod Kumar Sharma speaks about various aspects of Visakhapatnam airport.
Q) Vizag airport has seen nearly 45% increase in air passenger traffic in this fiscal. What is the target you are looking at by the end of this fiscal?
We are expecting the growth to continue and by the end of March we hope to handle around 15 lakh passengers. Now, in the winter season, we will introduce four new domestic flights. One is from Vizag to Vijayawada by Air India. There is a huge requirement as the capital is there and this will meet the demand. Jet Airways is introducing a Mumbai-Vizag-Delhi-Vizag-Mumbai flight. AirAsia is also starting a Vizag-Delhi direct flight and Jet Airways is launching another flight to connect Chennai and Hyderabad. So, traffic is going to further increase here.
02/11/15 Times of India
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
Q) Vizag airport has seen nearly 45% increase in air passenger traffic in this fiscal. What is the target you are looking at by the end of this fiscal?
We are expecting the growth to continue and by the end of March we hope to handle around 15 lakh passengers. Now, in the winter season, we will introduce four new domestic flights. One is from Vizag to Vijayawada by Air India. There is a huge requirement as the capital is there and this will meet the demand. Jet Airways is introducing a Mumbai-Vizag-Delhi-Vizag-Mumbai flight. AirAsia is also starting a Vizag-Delhi direct flight and Jet Airways is launching another flight to connect Chennai and Hyderabad. So, traffic is going to further increase here.
02/11/15 Times of India
