The Hindu Business Line : Bouquets and brickbats for new Hyderabad airport

Hyderabad, April 22 One month after its inception, the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has received both bouquets and brickbats. As it gets a pat on the back for giving Hyderabad a ‘world-class international airport’, it also received severe criticism for operational hiccups.

In the first month, the airport witnessed a growth of 15.7 per cent in air traffic movements (an air traffic movement can either be a landing or a take-off) have gone up to 7,789 from 6,734 at Begumpet Airport in the preceding month.

The number of passengers too has gone up significantly. The number stood at 6.26 lakh as against 5.54 lakh at the old airport, according to available statistics.

There, however, is not much change in terms of cargo movement. There is no change in the number of airlines operating too. The airport operates 12 domestic and 11 international airlines.

“There was no scope for expansion and facilities at the old airport. The new one gives all indications of offering a truly international experience,” Mr Atluri Subba Rao, President of Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce of India.

“Seeing the facilities at the new airport, at least two international airlines have announced their plans to start operations this year. While Gulf Air would begin daily services from July 1, British Airways would operate five flights a week in October 2008,” Mr A. Vishwanath, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) of RGIA, told Business Line.

It, however, doesn’t mean that everything has been smooth. Several passengers, who arrive at the airport, complain that there were inordinate delays at the customs, immigration and baggage areas.

Employees of Indian Airlines last week have alleged that they were being denied basic amenities at the new airport. They staged a dharna and raised slogans, protesting against the attitude of the management.

Companies, which want to put up billboards at the airport and along the way, complained that the ad tariff was too high when compared with that of the old airport. “It is simply impossible for us to spend so much. Take for example, a wall-mounted display would cost us Rs 20 lakh a month, that too, we have to take it for a year,” a spokesperson of Janapriya Engineers Syndicate, said.

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