The city airport has posted a 7.9% growth in combined domestic and international passenger traffic from April to October when compared to the corresponding period last year. However, aviation experts say that there is nothing to rejoice as Bengaluru airport has recorded a 24% growth in passenger movement. The city airport's record may not improve much in the coming months as rain and floods have eroded a lot of traffic in December, a peak season. Chennai handles more passenger volume but growth rate is sluggish when compared to the neighboring airport of Bengaluru. International travelers grew by 6.3% and domestic travelers increased by 8.8% in Chennai from April to October.
A senior official of Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said that this was a good sign of reviving business in the city. "With the development activities and investment planned in the coming years, the number of travelers will increase further. We are making progress but slowly," he added. However, airlines do not seem to share the same enthusiasm as Bengaluru has registered double digit growth in percentage for domestic and international passenger traffic.
An airline official said, "The experience of international carriers was bad during the floods that many refused to resume flights though airport officials declared that the runways are open earlier than the appointed date. Airlines are expected to move to Bengaluru. Amaravati airport, when it opens, will be another competition to Chennai because Andhra Pradesh is aggressive in marketing the state to investors." Growth of international passengers is slowing down in Chennai because European carriers prefer to fly out of Begnaluru. Air France was the first to move out. Lufthansa has added frequency from Bengaluru. "It will not be surprising if European carriers would want to operate more services from Bengaluru because they suffer losses flying into Chennai because of poor ground handling, lack of parking stands, poor safety practices, bad terminals and other facilities which hamper a quick turnaround," he added.
30/12/15 The Times Of India
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A senior official of Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said that this was a good sign of reviving business in the city. "With the development activities and investment planned in the coming years, the number of travelers will increase further. We are making progress but slowly," he added. However, airlines do not seem to share the same enthusiasm as Bengaluru has registered double digit growth in percentage for domestic and international passenger traffic.
An airline official said, "The experience of international carriers was bad during the floods that many refused to resume flights though airport officials declared that the runways are open earlier than the appointed date. Airlines are expected to move to Bengaluru. Amaravati airport, when it opens, will be another competition to Chennai because Andhra Pradesh is aggressive in marketing the state to investors." Growth of international passengers is slowing down in Chennai because European carriers prefer to fly out of Begnaluru. Air France was the first to move out. Lufthansa has added frequency from Bengaluru. "It will not be surprising if European carriers would want to operate more services from Bengaluru because they suffer losses flying into Chennai because of poor ground handling, lack of parking stands, poor safety practices, bad terminals and other facilities which hamper a quick turnaround," he added.
30/12/15 The Times Of India
