24X7 ops to increase air traffic 30-35%, HC told : The Tribune India

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24X7 ops to increase air traffic 30-35%, HC told

CHANDIGARH: Come April, the domestic traffic from the Chandigarh international airport is all set to increase by 30 to 35 per cent.

24X7 ops to increase air traffic 30-35%, HC told


Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 13

Come April, the domestic traffic from the Chandigarh international airport is all set to increase by 30 to 35 per cent. Information to this effect was given to the Punjab and Haryana High Court during the resumed hearing of a petition filed in public interest for making the airport fully functional.

A Division Bench hearing the matter was also told about an Air India flight between Chandigarh and Delhi that would eventually enable passengers to hop on to connecting flights to Europe. At the onset, Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal told the Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli that there would be 112 to-and-fro movements from the airport from April 1, indicating an increase of more than 30 per cent in the domestic traffic. The submission came in response to a court query on domestic traffic from the airport.

Mittal added that the new flight would depart from Delhi at 5.45 am and arrive at Chandigarh at 6.30 am. It will leave the city for Delhi at 7 am and arrive there at 7.50 am. Referring to a communication, Mittal said landing at Chandigarh was not permitted before 7 am as of now. However, Chandigarh was expected to become functional 24X7 after March 31. As such, Air India had requested the commencement of operations with effect from April 1, subject to approval of the competent authorities.

A status report placed before the Bench said manpower had been allocated for 24X7 operations vide a letter dated February 5. The Bench was also told that additional lights would be procured for being installed on the runway. It was added that non-installation of the lights was in no way a hindrance for night operations at the airport.

It was added that the issue of handing over the old terminal building to the Indian Air Force was being deliberated upon between officials of the airport authority and the Indian Air Force and the outcome of the deliberations would be placed before the High Court.

The High Court, on a previous date of hearing, was told that several new flights from Chandigarh to Delhi, Mumbai and the Middle East were on the cards. The flights to Mumbai would further connect to international destinations such as London, Manchester, Paris and Amsterdam.

A report by amicus curiae or the friend of the court ML Sarin, based on a high-powered meeting, was also placed before the Bench. Among other things, senior advocate Sarin said representatives of Jet Airways informed him that the summer schedule had already been fixed and they were planning to start three new flights from Chandigarh to Delhi and Mumbai. The Chandigarh to Mumbai flight would further connect to international destinations.

It was also pointed out to Sarin that Jet Airways had a code-share agreement with 18 other airlines.

112 to-and-fro movements from April 1

Assistant Solicitor-General of India Chetan Mittal told the Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli that there would be 112 to-and-fro movements from the Chandigarh international airport from April 1, indicating an increase of more than 30 per cent in the domestic traffic. The submission came in response to a court query on domestic traffic from the airport.

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