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V. Rishi Kumar
Ashwini Phadnis

Hyderabad, Oct. 16 Operators of private jets, specially those for business travellers, feel the existing airports will do just as well as the new modern airports being built around the country. Believe it or not, but the global manufacturers of private jets — be it Bombardier, Cessna or the India representative of Hawker Beechcraft — say that the existing airports will do just fine for intra-day travellers.

“We do not need new airports and are not ashamed of the old airports. We sell convenience to our customers, who spend millions of dollars purchasing a private jet so that they can pack in more in a working day. Most new airports are away from the city and therefore, are not very useful for those flying private jets as our customers spend hours making the road journey from the new airport to the city centre,” pointed out Mr David Dixon, Regional Vice-President, Sales (Asia and Pacific), Bombardier Business Aircraft.

Echoing similar sentiments, Mr Trevor Esling, Vice-President, International Sales, Cessna, pointed out that in London most business jets land at the city airport rather than at Heathrow or Gatwick.

“These business people who arrive at the city airport reach the business centre in 10 minutes, complete their business and go back. If they were to choose any other airport, they will probably spend a few minutes in the air circling over the city before touching down and close to an hour getting to the business centre,” he added.

Private jet manufacturers point out that having a separate airport for such aircraft is not uncommon around the world and is present in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Djakarta.

Echoing similar views on behalf of low-cost airlines, the Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia X, Mr Azran Osman Rani, said that a second airport in the city with dedicated terminal and facilities was practical.

The Chief Executive Officer, InterGlobe General Aviation, which represents Hawker Beechcraft, said that the other option was to have a fixed base operation more popularly known as (FBO) in those cities which have only one airport. An FBO is a one-stop shop where a private jet can land and the businessman can drive straight to the meeting while the aircraft is serviced and kept ready for the flight back.

So, while the Government is pushing for construction of new airports around the country, this is not an idea which is exciting the business community.

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