Air traffic hit, airport expansion delayed

Air traffic hit, airport expansion delayed


Hemanth CS/ENS
First Published : 24 Oct 2008 07:45:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 24 Oct 2008 10:31:56 AM IST

BANGALORE: The turbulence in the markets has reached the skies, as air traffic growth at airports across the country has slowed down and the Bangalore skies are no different with the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) too reflecting this trend.

According to airport sources, the economic downturn and high aviation turbine fuel (ATF) charges have resulted in traffic not picking up until late August and September. Usually, every year, May, June and July are considered low periods in the Indian airline industry, but this slowdown phase continuing till September has made it obvious that there is a decrease in air travel.

“The BIA began operations with 170 flights a day and will end the summer 2008 season with 162 flights a day. The winter 2008 flights will increase to 165 flights a day resulting in a growth of 1.5 per cent. Although domestic air traffic reflects a negative growth of 1.5 per cent, this overall positive growth in movement is due to the increase in international flight operations from Bangalore,” BIA officials told Express.

However, on the international front, in the last four-and-half-months since the commissioning of the airport in May, six new international carriers have been introduced and a total increase in international flights is said to be over 230 per cent as compared to last year’s winter schedule.

The criticism and the constant pondering over the capacity constraints at the airport will also take a back seat for the time being thanks to the economic recession and its impact on the air traffic. On the expansion front, the BIA has no immediate plans and is expected to take a decision only in the next two or three months.

“Since June, there has been a dramatic fall in monthly traffic for all airports in India. We are currently conducting a study on the current trend and based on the results, which will be out in two-three months, we will take a decision on our next expansion plan,” added officials.

BIA had earlier announced that the airport is expected to commence the second phase by third quarter of 2009 (around July) and during the second phase, a second terminal and the second runway would be constructed which is expected to be completed in another 3 or 4 years.

In addition, an ‘Express Terminal’ was also planned to accommodate any capacity constraints post the eighteen-month period.