Mumbai: Private airlines have voiced objections to the proposed partial shutdown of Goa International Airport for 45 days to facilitate the upgrade of its runway. The state's only airport, located in Dabolim, is part of Naval airbase INS Hansa and remains closed to commercial flights between 8.30 am and 1 pm everyday for use by the Navy.
With the defence ministry planning to re-carpet the runway from April 1 and resurface the central areas from April 15, the airport will be open to commercial and Naval flights between 5 am and 1 pm till May 31.
While the timing initially had been from 5 am to 11 am, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has proposed to extend operations by two hours till 1 pm after defence minister Manohar Parrikar's intervention, but a decision is yet to be taken.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) says this will force air operators to reschedule their flights to Goa or club them with other destinations. The airlines federation has written to the civil aviation ministry to postpone the upgradation, claiming the runway closure will result in numerous flight cancellations and will affect a large number of passengers.
22/03/15 Aditya Anand & Yogesh Naik/Mumbai Mirror
With the defence ministry planning to re-carpet the runway from April 1 and resurface the central areas from April 15, the airport will be open to commercial and Naval flights between 5 am and 1 pm till May 31.
While the timing initially had been from 5 am to 11 am, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has proposed to extend operations by two hours till 1 pm after defence minister Manohar Parrikar's intervention, but a decision is yet to be taken.
The Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) says this will force air operators to reschedule their flights to Goa or club them with other destinations. The airlines federation has written to the civil aviation ministry to postpone the upgradation, claiming the runway closure will result in numerous flight cancellations and will affect a large number of passengers.
22/03/15 Aditya Anand & Yogesh Naik/Mumbai Mirror
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