The Hindu : Front Page : Airbus makes maiden landing in city of destiny

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
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Airbus makes maiden landing in city of destiny

B. Madhu Gopal

Kingfisher planning to launch operations in a month

HUB IN THE MAKING: A Kingfisher Airbus A 319 that came on a trial run to the city on Tuesday. The Paramount Airways flight, which recently overshot the runway, is in the foreground. — Photo: K.R. Deepak

VISAKHAPATNAM: Kingfisher created history by landing its Airbus A 319 for the first time at the Visakhapatnam Airport on Tuesday. The 144-seater aircraft came from Mumbai for a trial run on the runway here and landed on the old runway and took off after a 10-minute halt.

This is the first Airbus to land in Visakhapatnam. Indian Airlines has been planning to operate an Airbus to Visakhapatnam for long but its plans didn't materialise.

Though Boeings of a similar capacity are being operated by other airlines, the Airbus is the most modern aircraft, which can take off and land smoothly despite its huge size. With the successful trial run, Kingfisher is now planning to launch Airbus operations to Vizag in about a month's time, according to sources. There was also talk that the test flight was undertaken as part of the calibration of the Instrument Landing System (ILS) which was installed recently.

Hectic activity

With work on the extension of the runway being completed and work on modernisation of the terminal building and adding new facilities going on at a hectic pace, more and more airline operators are evincing keen interest in operating more flights from Vizag.

General Manager, Airports Authority of India, Suresh declined to divulge any details saying that the Airport Controller was the right person to comment on the issue.

Airport Controller Pattabhi, however, said he was not aware about the trial run by Kingfisher.

The authorities of Kingfisher couldn't be reached over the phone.

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