The opening of Bangalore’s new airport looks set to be delayed further as talks continue between the private company that built it and the Government over the future of the Indian city’s existing airport.
Original plans called for the new airport to open on 30 March but the Government announced in mid-March that it had asked for this to be delayed to at least 11 May, following a strike by employees of state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI).
An 11 May opening now also looks unlikely to get government approval, however, as the Civil Aviation Ministry is trying to negotiate a deal with the consortium behind the new airport to allow for the existing state-run airport to remain open in some form.
AAI employees are upset that the existing airport is due to close once the new facility opens and the issue has turned to the courts, which recently asked the Government and the consortium to enter into discussions on possible changes to the concession agreement.
The concession agreement stipulates that the existing airport will shut to commercial operations once the new one opens. Civil aviation minister Praful Patel told reporters after meeting the new airport’s owners yesterday that “various proposals” were made, including one suggestion that aircraft seating fewer than 80 passengers be allowed to continue operating from the existing airport.
Patel says another meeting with the new airport’s owners has been set for 12 May. Spokespeople for the new airport were not immediately available for comment.
Bangalore’s new airport, which is officially known as Bengaluru International Airport, has been built by a consortium 74%-owned by Siemens, Unique Zurich Airport and Indian engineering firm Larsen & Toubro. AAI and the State Government of Karnataka hold the remaining 26%.
Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news site Air Transport Intelligence news
Source: FlightGlobal.com
