On DIAL radar: all flights from upcoming T3 terminal

Inaugurated in April 2009,terminal T1D,originally planned as India’s first terminal exclusively for low-cost airlines,would be shut for normal flight operations once the new integrated terminal T3 becomes functional in July,top sources said. All domestic and international carriers would be moved to T3,it was informed. According to sources,talks about the shift are at an advanced stage after full-cost carriers like Kingfisher and Jet Airways expressed the need to shift their low-cost carriers to T3.

A top Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said: “Discussions are on following various interconnectivity issues. T1D is far from new runway 29-11. This distance increases taxiing time for aircraft considerably. But no final decision has yet been taken.”

Airport developer DIAL is discussing the issue with all stakeholders. DIAL’s chief executive officer for airport development I P Rao confirmed this: “Discussions are on and a decision would be arrived at in another two months,” he said.

The original plan was to shift all international and domestic full-cost carriers to terminal T3,and T1D was to cater exclusively to low-cost carriers. Originally,shutting down T1D was part of the second phase of IGI Airport’s master plan — it was to be shut down around 2016,as per plans.

But now,scheduled domestic airlines have reportedly expressed concerns about cost escalation due to the connectivity issue. They have said it becomes cumbersome to shift manpower between the terminals in order to cater to their low-cost and full-cost carriers.

An airport source said: “Airlines such as Kingfisher have practically the same aircraft,ground handling staff and other equipment to run flight operations on both Kingfisher (full-cost) and Kingfisher Red (low-cost) airlines.” “The switch between terminals would not just increase costs,it would also be inconvenient.”

According to DIAL officials,the terminal T3 building will be ready by March 31,and full operations are likely to commence by July 1.

Talks are on with Air India for the national carrier to be the first to move its operations to T3 in April and take part in the ‘operational readiness and airport transfer’ (ORAT) trials to be carried out for three months before the terminal is opened to other airlines,officials said.

DIAL is already in talks with global firms to fund,construct and operate facilities for general aviation and non-scheduled operations at IGI Airport. The selected firm would be responsible for providing terminal-side facilities,air-side facilities and maintenance services.

Terminal-side facilities would include handling and catering services for general aviation operations,besides managing special lounges and conference facilities. Air-side facilities would include aircraft fuelling,de-fuelling and oil dispensing,parking,tie-down and hangar storage,power plant and accessory services,avionics and instrument services.