Gujarat seeks 2nd international airport

Scramble over western skies

Flying to and from Ahmedabad is going to get a lot easier for international travellers as a host of global airlines have queued up to launch flights to Gujarat's commercial capital in recent times.

The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, state's only airport, is now gearing up for handling more flights in the next few months.

Meanwhile, the state government is contemplating to move a proposal to the Union ministry of civil aviation, seeking permission to upgrade one of the other major domestic airports in Gujarat into an international one.

Interestingly, the state has eight airports. Though no other state in the country has so many airports, only Ahmedabad airport meets the international standard.

Sources close to the development told Business Standard that the state government would request the Centre to upgrade either Vadodara or Jamnagar airport to 'international' status as both the cities enjoy high industrial and commercial activities.

"The international airport in Ahmedabad has reported over 38 per cent rise in handling passengers during the last fiscal year compared with last year. In view of that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has already decided to expand Sardar Patel airport.

With industrial activities gaining momentum in cities such as Vadodara and Jamnagar we will ask DGCA to upgrade one of these existing airports as international airports," said a senior IAS officer, requesting anonymity. Jamnagar houses country's largest petroleum refinery run by the Reliance Industries. Essar Oil is also developing its refinery in Jamnagar.

Already international airlines like Malaysia Airlines, Air Lanka, Thai Airways, Slovak Airlines and Japan Airlines have expressed their interest in commencing operations from Ahmedabad in the next few months.

Singapore Airlines has recently commenced its direct service from Ahmedabad, while Malaysia Airlines is all set to start operation from Ahmedabad from December 16.

Air Lanka's first flight would take off from Sardar Patel airport during February, next year. Thai Airways and Japan Airlines are planning to start their operations from Ahmedabad during first quarter of the next calendar year while Gulf Air, Oman Airlines, and Emirates have reportedly filed application with DGCA.

"We will provide space and time slot to most of the international airlines planning to commence international operations from Ahmedabad with the existing infrastructure till the new international terminal is ready," said N S Jaldhari, director, Sardar Patel airport.

An expansion project for the international terminal is on the cards as a Singapore-based consultancy, which was handed over the job to prepare a report on the proposed expansion, is expected to submit the report soon.

"The Gujarat government had already announced sales tax exemption for aviation turbine fuel (ATF) and lubricants purchased for use in international flights.

"The move taken by the government will encourage the international airlines to commence their operations from Ahmedabad," said Anil Patel, minister of state for civil aviation.

"Several foreign airlines have already communicated their interest in starting flights from Gujarat and few of these are awaiting permission from the DGCA,", he added.

"Emirates has always welcomed the Centre's decision to initiate an open sky policy as this will boost the tourism during the peak season. Emirates would also welcome the opportunity to increase its operations where there is market demand, but this is, of course, a matter to be decided by the Indian civil aviation authorities," said Abdulla Nasser Abdulla, vice-president, Emirates.

"India is a key market for Emirates and has shown a consistent growth in both passenger and cargo," he added.

"We are all set to commence our international operations from Ahmedabad on December 16, this year. We will have our first direct flight from Ahmedabad to Kuala Lum Pur on December 16 and we will fly three-days-a-week," said a senior Malaysia Airlines official.

"We are ready to start operations in Ahmedabad from February 2005," said an official from Air Lanka.