Delhi Plans for Low Cost Terminal

Plans to re-develop Delhi International Airport's (DIAL) Terminal 1A into a fully operational domestic and international transit hub look set to go ahead.

The news comes a response to the growing need for a separate low cost carrier (LCC), as air traffic in India increases.

A DIAL official said, "There are two options before us. We can shift everything to T3 or have a big LCC complex in Terminal 1 for both domestic and international operations. We will take a final decision by next February. If we go in for a dedicated LCC area in Terminal 1, the infrastructure linking the terminals and providing customs and immigration counters, would be put in place by next winter."

Terminal 1 currently operates bus services between terminals, reducing the turnaround time for aircraft, as opposed to other terminals using aerobridges, which is a great benefit for low cost carriers.

"IndiGo , SpiceJet and Go alone are expected to handle six million passengers this year and they are all augmenting their fleets. SpiceJet has started flying abroad and IndiGo will become eligible next year. We have to keep options open to handle a sudden surge in traffic like using 1A-1 D-1 C for integrated domestic-cum-international operations of LCCs and use the now mothballed terminal 2 (the old international airport) which has a capacity of 10 million passengers per year," said the official.

Friday, 10th December 2010 at 05:06am