Air connectivity may be severely affected from next month if the Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) developer, GVK, decides to go ahead with closure of this arterial airport for seven hours daily.
The developer has proposed this plan to the aviation regulator DGCA, saying it needs to shut airspace between 10.30am till 5.30pm daily from February 25 to April 19.
This is apparently needed for runway modernisation. Interestingly, four southern airports -- Bangalore, Hyderabad, Cochin and Chennai -- are already being closed for three hours each afternoon and this is creating flight disruptions across South India.
“BIAL has floated a consultation paper for a NOTAM (Notice to Airmen) for closing the airport between February 25 and April 19. But we don't think this is a feasible idea. Already, all domestic airlines have filed their summer schedules (summer schedule comes into effect from March-end), which would mean an increase in the number of flights. How can Bangalore airport be closed for seven long hours for almost two months?” said DGCA sources.
BIAL sources said a decision has not been taken on whether the airport would be closed and that this was just the beginning of a consultation process.
Meanwhile, DGCA sources said BIAL will be asked to defer its modernisation plans.
According to its current proposal, no flights will be allowed to land or take off after 9.45am and before 5.15pm during the NOTAM period.
No comments:
Post a Comment