Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Flight operations from new terminal to be delayed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The commencement of flight operations from the world class terminal of the international airport here is to be delayed as the National Aviation Company Limited (NACIL) is seeking more time to create the requisite ground handling facilities in the Rs.300-crore complex.

The NACIL's demand for more time to create the facilities has come as a jolt to the Airports Authority of India (AAI) that has been gearing up to commence the flight operations this month itself. The AAI had even carried out a trial run using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft and mock docking of the aircraft to one of the aerobridges of the terminal complex on the Chakka side on Monday night.

NACIL Executive Director, Southern Region, Sunil Kishen sought one month's time to the AAI at a high-level meeting convened by the AAI and chaired by the AAI's Regional Executive Director D. Devaraj at the Airport Director's Office here on Tuesday.

Airport sources told The Hindu that the NACIL, which takes care of the ground handling of majority of international airlines operating from Thiruvananthapuram, also sought space on the airside of the terminal complex for setting up an office and for the ground handling activities.

It has been pointed out that the Airport Director had written to the NACIL a year ago on the need to expedite the ground handling facilities at the new terminal complex. Although the NACIL had sought one month time for setting up the facilities, the sources said, they had not given it in writing to the AAI.

The sources said the NACIL would not be able to create the facilities within one month and that the commencement of the flight operations would be delayed.

The NACIL is yet to furnish the space allocated for them in the terminal building and it is also facing a shortage of critical equipment.

However, NACIL sources said they had sought more facilities for unhindered operations from the new terminal. Primarily, the NACIL had asked for more room space in the terminal for storing baggage, more space for the security personnel, rest rooms, library for the manuals and engineering facilities as NACIL will have to take care of line maintenance of the aircraft.

Earlier, the AAI and NACIL officials carried out a joint inspection of the perimeter road and the terminal building. The lack of a kitchen in the complex to cater for the passengers who will be stranded in case of any flight delay and a lounge for business class was also pointed out.

Mr. Devaraj inaugurated the barracks constructed for the elite Aviation Security Group (ASG) personnel of the CISF which takes care of the airport security.

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