Tsunami effect: global airlines defer city plans

It may be called the 'Tsunami effect' of a different kind. At least three international airlines "" Air Lanka, Thai Airways and Japan Airlines "" which were expected to commence operations from Ahmedabad by the end of the current fiscal year, have put on hold their plans.

The reason "" the tsunami, which hit several south-east Asian countries including India and Sri Lanka, claiming around two lakh lives.

"Airline companies such as Air Lanka and Thai Airways had confirmed their plans to commence international operations from Ahmedabad but have postponed their plans because of the tsunami. We expect them to commence operations after things stabilise in the south-east region," said N S Jaldhari, airport director, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPIA), on Monday.

According to Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials, Thai Airways was scheduled to start international operations from Ahmedabad in January and Air Lanka from February, but both the airlines have deferred their plans.

Among international airlines, Singapore Airlines commenced its direct service from Ahmedabad on July 28, 2004, and Air Malaysia started operations from Ahmedabad from December 16 last year.

International airlines like Slovak Airlines, Japan Airlines and various Middle East airlines companies such as Gulf Air, Oman Airlines, and Emirates Airlines have plans to start operations from Ahmedabad.

In the last six months, officials of Slovak Airlines and Japan Airlines had conducted a feasibility study on the plan. They are expected to come to the city soon for the second round of talks with airport officials.

Japan Airlines is planning to use the Ahmedabad airport as a transit point because of the congestion at the Delhi and Mumbai airports.

"By 2008, Ahmedabad will have a world class international airport, to be made in line with the Changi Airport in Singapore. The facelift would cost Rs 500 crore, following which various airlines will commence operations from the city because of the congestion in the Delhi and Mumbai airports. We will provide space and time slot to most of the international airlines planning to commence operations from Ahmedabad," said Jaladhari.

He said, "We will try to accommodate most of the international airlines planning to commence their international operations from Ahmedabad with the existing infrastructure, till the new international terminal is ready. We will provide time slots to upcoming international airlines in such a way that it will not clash with the timings of other international operators."