Page 3 - Airports

Dubai plans to move int'l airport to $35 bn new facility within 10 years

Dubai International Airport, the world's busiest for international travel, will move its operations to the city-state's second, sprawling airfield in its southern desert reaches within the next 10 years in a project worth nearly $35 billion, its ruler said Sunday. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum's announcement marks the latest chapter in the rebound of its long-haul carrier Emirates after the coronavirus pandemic grounded international travel. Plans have been on the books for years to move the operations of the airport known as DXB to Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central which had also been delayed by the repercussions of the sheikhdom's 2009 economic crisis. We are building a new project for future generations, ensuring continuous and stable development for our children and their children in turn, Sheikh Mohammed said in an online statement. Dubai will be the world's airport, its port, its urban hub and its new global centre. The announcement included ...

Airport near volcano reopens as Indonesia lowers eruption alert level

Indonesian authorities reopened an international airport near a volcano that erupted last week as they lowered a warning level on Monday. Sam Ratulangi airport has been closed since Thursday due to eruptions at nearby Mount Ruang. Indonesia's Disaster Management Agency lowered the volcano's alert level from four, the second-highest level, to three, but said residents were still ordered to remain at least 4 kilometers (2.7 miles) away from the mountain. More than 3,000 residents have been evacuated since Thursday due to dangers including ash, falling rocks, hot volcanic clouds and fears of a tsunami. A joint team from the local authorities combed the villages surrounding the volcano and evacuated residents by boat. Danger continued with the possibility of small-scale eruptions, which could cause rock slides and other damage in the immediate area of the volcano. Officials opened the airport after satellite imagery showed that rains had washed away volcanic ash covering the ...

Doha's Hamad international crowned world's best airport 2024: Full rankings revealed

Delhi airport among world's top ten busiest airports of 2023: ACI

Delhi airport has been named among the world's top 10 busiest airports for 2023 in a list topped by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Indira Gandhi International Airport in the national capital is ranked tenth while Dubai and Dallas airports are at the second and third positions, respectively, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) World. Releasing the list on Monday, the ACI also said the global total passenger forecast for 2023 stands close to 8.5 billion (850 crore), reflecting a remarkable recovery of 93.8 per cent from pre-pandemic levels and 27.2 per cent higher than 2022. "Notably, international traffic recovery drew nearer to that of domestic traffic, emphasising its essential role in propelling the industry's resurgence and expansion," it said. Among the top 10 busiest airports, five are in the US. At the tenth place, Delhi airport handled more than 7.22 crore passengers in 2023. In 2022, the airport was at the ninth ...

SC bats for SOP for easy access of airports to persons with disability

The Supreme Court on Monday underlined the need for an effective standard operating procedure (SOP) to ensure trouble-free access of airports across the country to persons with disability. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was hearing a plea filed by a wheelchair-bound woman who had faced difficulties at Kolkata airport on January 30. "You are justifying your action about asking a woman wheelchair-bound passenger to stand up and stand up for screening in a security area in the airport," the bench told Additional Solicitor General Vikramjit Banerjee, who was representing the Centre. The bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, said there should be an effective SOP in place on this issue. The bench has posted the matter for hearing on April 19. While hearing the matter on February 26, the apex court had said it will ask the Centre and others, including the Airports Authority of India, to frame an SOP so people with disabilities can have trouble-f

Air India, BIAL sign agreement to develop Bengaluru airport as hub

According to Cirium, the Bengaluru airport presently manages approximately 5,145 flights per week. Tata-run airlines operate 1,538 of these flights weekly to and from Bengaluru airport

AAI to post highest ever pre-tax profit of Rs 5,000 crore in FY24

Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to report the highest-ever profit of Rs 5,000 crore in the financial year 2023-24, a senior official said on Monday. In recent years, the number of airports has gone up, especially with the regional air connectivity scheme, amid rising domestic air traffic. AAI Chairman Sanjeev Kumar said the organisation surpassed the capital expenditure target at around Rs 5,250 crore in the fiscal ended March 2024. In 2023-24, the turnover is expected to be around Rs 15,000 crore and the profit before tax at Rs 5,000 crore, which will be the "highest ever in our history," Kumar said. He was speaking at the 29th annual day of the AAI. At the function, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said the number of airports, heliports and waterdromes has increased to 157 from 74 in the last 10 years. Efforts are on to increase the number to 200, he added.

BCAS issues new guidelines, allows passenger exit via departure gates

Aviation security watchdog BCAS has issued new guidelines that will allow exit of passengers from an aircraft through an airport departure gate in case there is a long delay in operating the flight after boarding. The latest directive from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) comes against the backdrop of rising instances of congestion and flight delays, resulting in passengers getting stuck in aircraft after boarding for long hours. BCAS Director General Zulfiquar Hasan on Monday said the guidelines were issued to airlines and airport operators on March 30 and are now in force. The guidelines will help in ensuring "less harassment" for passengers and they would not have to keep sitting inside an aircraft for long hours after boarding, he said. In case of long flight delays and other emergencies after boarding, passengers will be permitted to exit through the departure gate of the airport concerned. "Airport operators have to make arrangements for the infrastructure, inclu

Adani Group may shift grounded planes to smaller airports for parking space

MoCA informed Lok Sabha last year that 164 aircraft were grounded across 15 airports

PM Narendra Modi likely to inaugurate 15 airport projects on Sunday

The PM is likely to lay the foundation of new terminals in Hubli, Kadappa, Belgavi in Karnataka, Adampur in Punjab, and Pune in Maharashtra

Man smokes 'beedi' onboard IndiGo flight, arrested at Mumbai airport

A 42-year-old man has been arrested after he allegedly smoked a beedi inside a lavatory onboard a Riyadh-bound IndiGo flight, a Mumbai Police official said on Tuesday raising concerns over security as the passenger had managed to pass through pre-boarding check-in at the Delhi airport. He was handed over to the police by cabin crew after the Delhi-Mumbai-Riyadh flight landed at the city airport on Monday. Shockingly, the accused managed to sneak in a lighter and a beedi with him when he boarded the flight at the Delhi airport on Monday, the official said. A labourer by profession, the accused, identified as Mohammed Fakruddin Mohammed Ammuruddin, was flying to Riyadh on a connecting flight via Mumbai. "The incident came to light when a flight security official noticed smoke in its lavatory mid-air after Ammuruddin exited it," the official said. After the flight landed in Mumbai, the man was detained by the cabin crew and the police were informed, he said. He said Ammuruddin told

400 jets in 4 days: Anant-Radhika's pre-wedding bash in Jamnagar takes off

The airport, which is a civil enclave in an Indian Air Force base with no parking space, is managing an estimated 400 charter flights between Friday and Monday

DGCA gets notice over man's death who had to walk for lack of wheelchair

The NHRC has sent a notice to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) over reports that an 80-year-old man died at the Mumbai airport after he was refused a wheelchair despite prior request to an airline and forced to walk. Reportedly, the US-based Indian-origin man collapsed after walking for about 1.5 km on the way to the immigration area, the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement. He was walking alongside his wife, who was in a wheelchair. The elderly couple was travelling from New York to India, the rights panel said, quoting the report. The NHRC said it "has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that an 80-year-old man died at the Mumbai airport as he had to walk when not provided with a wheelchair despite prior request to the airline." The Commission observed that the content of the media report, if true, raises a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim. It has asked the DGCA for a detail report in four weeks. It should include

FedEx Express inaugurates regional hub at Dubai World Central Airport

New York Stock Exchange-listed FedEx Corp subsidiary FedEx Express on Tuesday announced the official inauguration of its regional hub at Dubai airport which would help it provide a greater foothold in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent and Africa markets. This new FedEx regional hub at Dubai World Central Airport marks a long-term investment of more than USD 350 million, focusing on infrastructure, and technological advancements, the company said in a statement. The investment in the new hub further enhances India's connectivity to the rest of the world through the UAE, and forms an integral component of the region's logistics ecosystem, the company said. The 57,000 sq m facility incorporates advanced technologies that include automated sort systems that enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and speed of package processing and distribution from the facility, FedEx said. The hub also has two automated high-speed x-ray machines along with a dedicated 170 sq. m cold storage area to cat

German labour union calls on Lufthansa ground staff to strike on Feb 20

A labour union in Germany has called on ground staff for Lufthansa to walk off the job at seven airports on Tuesday following a similar strike earlier this month. The Ver.di union said Sunday that the one-day strike will affect the airports in Frankfurt and Munich, Lufthansa's two main hubs, as well as Berlin, Duesseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne-Bonn and Stuttgart. It will run from 4 am Tuesday to 7:10 am Wednesday. A 27-hour strike at five of the same airports that started February 7 prompted the airline to cancel hundreds of flights. The union is seeking pay raises of 12.5 per cent, or at least 500 euros (USD 539) more per month, in negotiations for about 25,000 employees, including check-in, aircraft handling, maintenance and freight staff. Several-hour or one-day warning strikes are a common tactic in German contract negotiations. A round of talks on February 12 produced no agreement. More negotiations are scheduled for Wednesday.

Ensure timely arrival of baggage at airports after aircraft landing: BCAS

Regulator BCAS has directed airlines to ensure that all baggage of passengers are delivered within 30 minutes of landing of a flight at an airport. The directive from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) to seven scheduled airlines also comes against the backdrop of delays in passengers getting their baggage after landing of a flight. An official statement on Sunday said that BCAS has asked the airlines to implement the required measures to ensure timely delivery of baggage by February 26. The directive was issued on February 16 to seven airlines -- Air India, IndiGo, Akasa Air, SpiceJet, Vistara, AIX Connect and Air India Express. Airlines have to ensure that delivery of the last baggage is made within 30 minutes as per the Service Quality Requirements of Operation, Management and Delivery Agreement (OMDA). BCAS has been monitoring the arrival of baggage at belts of six major airports in January 2024 under the instructions of Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya ...

CIAL, BPCL sign pact to set up first green hydrogen plant at Cochin airport

In a strategic move to bolster its pathbreaking green energy initiatives, Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) for setting up a green hydrogen plant in the premises of Cochin Airport. This collaborative effort will result in the world's first green hydrogen plant and fueling station located within an airport setting, CIAL said in a statement on Wednesday. Green hydrogen, produced from water using renewable energy sources, is recognized as a future fuel and aligns with zero-carbon energy strategies, it said. The agreement exchange ceremony for the green hydrogen plant was held at Legislative Complex, Thiruvananthapuram in the presence of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who is also the chairman of CIAL, the statement said. "As pioneers in sustainable aviation, CIAL is happy to start a groundbreaking journey with BPCL towards establishing the country's first green hydrogen .

DGCA issues guidelines to prevent runway incursions, calls for training

Aviation regulator issues circular after Jan 2 accident at Haneda Airport in Tokyo

Lufthansa cancels hundreds of flights as ground staff strike for a day

Ground staff for Lufthansa walked off the job at five major German airports on Wednesday, causing the airline to cancel hundreds of flights. The Ver.di union called on ground staff at Frankfurt and Munich, Lufthansa's two main hubs, as well as Berlin, Duesseldorf and Hamburg, to strike for 27 hours starting at 4 am Wednesday. Lufthansa said ahead of the strike that it expected to be able to operate around 10-20 per cent of all planned flights. It said tickets could be re-booked free of charge, and tickets for German domestic flights could be converted to rail vouchers. In Frankfurt, the company canceled 80-90 per cent of the planned 600 departures and arrivals by Lufthansa itself and subsidiary Air Dolomiti ahead of the strike, German news agency dpa reported. More than 400 departures and arrivals at Munich Airport also were canceled. All Lufthansa departures from Berlin and Hamburg were canceled, as were most domestic flights from Duesseldorf. Lufthansa anticipated that, in all, m

Refurbishment work of runway 28/10 complete at Delhi airport, says DIAL

Delhi airport operator DIAL on Saturday said it has completed the refurbishment work of the runway 28/10. The final work on the technical integration of the runway RWY 10/28, also known as the second runway, is underway and will be completed very soon, according to a release. In recent weeks, there has been a significant impact on flight operations due to low visibility conditions because of fog. Against this backdrop, there were also concerns expressed about RWY 10/28 being non-operational. After the refurbishment, the runway was scheduled to be operational on January 19, but due to some "unforeseen technical issues" system integration could not be completed. "It is expected to be completed in 8 to 10 days. DIAL is working diligently with its partner Honeywell to complete the process soon," the release said. DIAL also said the newly constructed fourth runway of the airport will be CAT III compliant on January 26. CAT III pertains to flight operations in low visibility condition