Neelam Mathews

As India struggles with infrastructure issues related to congestion at airports hard-pressed to deal with air traffic growing at 16 percent per year, capacity needs to be developed through a blend of improved efficiency of present resources and investment in new infrastructure. Recognizing this, Mumbai-based Maharashtra Airport Authority Co. (MADC, Hall 2, Booth 2538) is scouting for new relationships for its ambitious plan to support airport development in the western state of India.

 


“We are here to showcase development of small airports and look for partners that create a value-add for a new unit we have created to improve regional connectivity from small airports in our state to other states,” said MADC marketing manager Atul Thakare. This is the newest initiative in India to support the federal government’s successful Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) that aims to connect underserved, unserved, and remote airports through a subsidy and tax concessions. The scheme is also called Udan, which translates to “let the common man fly.”

 


“MADC is the nodal agency, and many of our airports have been included in the RCS," said Thakare. "We are offering them a consultancy and have already had a couple of rounds of meetings with airlines, giving them a marketing case to fly probable routes to those airports." MADC was formed 16 years ago to develop a multi-modal international hub airport at Nagpur and aviation infrastructure in the state for regional air connectivity. Of the present 10 airports, work is underway for upgrades, a new greenfield airport, and expansion at some of the airports. In Nagpur, which is also a special economic zone that offers tax benefits, there is a General Electric testing facility and a Boeing MRO facility.&nbsp;Thakare said a request for proposal would soon be released for upgrades of the airport. Land acquisition for a greenfield airport near Pune at Purandar has begun, following completion of a feasibility study by Germany’s Dorche.

 


New airports will undoubtedly be required. Several cities will require second airports, said think-tank Center for Asia Pacific (CAPA) in its report, Resetting India’s Airport Planning &amp; Execution Framework, released in June. Given the timelines associated with airport development, greenfield airports are not the solution to the capacity challenge that will be faced over the next five to seven years, the report noted. Instead, near-term challenges will be most effectively addressed by increasing the productivity of existing assets. According to the report,&nbsp;“Mumbai Airport is an example of what is possible, for example, when the airport operator and the [airport authority and ANSP] collaborate to enhance airside efficiency. The airport has a declared handling capacity of 48 hourly aircraft movements (and regularly handles more than 50) on what is effectively a single-runway operation.”

 


CAPA expects total traffic at Indian airports, which stood at over 308 million during the last 12 months, to grow to 1,622 million operations by 2033. “India could face a capacity crisis without construction of 50 new airports over the next decade,” the report said. “The [airport authority] is overburdened with multiple responsibilities and is not designed to be able to efficiently and effectively discharge them.” The report&nbsp;recommends the establishment of an independent Airports Commission of India, “which will be responsible for preparing a strategic vision for the airport system, supported by a national master plan.

New developments at airports including regulations and noise issues; legal disputes; openings, acquisitions and mergers.

India's Airports Poised for Further Development

Airport authority aims to develop airports in western India.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Curt Epstein

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Midway Island plays a role in ETOPS flight planning

FAA Ponders Fate of Remote Pacific Island Airfield

Tennessee governor suggests change to airport board

Nashville Mulls Airport Name Change To Honor Dolly Parton

Hanneke Weitering

News and issues regarding all manner of civil and military rotorcraft and their powerplants, including helicopters, tilt rotors and unmanned air vehicles.

Site will support both piloted and pilotless VTOL flight testing

Wisk Begins Building eVTOL Vertiport at Hollister Airport

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

More In Airports

FAA Ponders Fate of Remote Pacific Island Airfield

Midway Island plays a role in ETOPS flight planning

Nashville Mulls Airport Name Change To Honor Dolly Parton

Tennessee governor suggests change to airport board

Wisk Begins Building eVTOL Vertiport at Hollister Airport

Site will support both piloted and pilotless VTOL flight testing

Electra Demos Hybrid-electric Flights in Three States

FAA program tests links between small fields and major hubs

Flexjet Bases European Helicopter Fleet at Blackbushe

S-76s and AW139s will carry passengers to and from London-area airports

FAA’s Bedford, Lawmakers Oppose Burke Lakefront Closure

Neither FAA nor Congress appear open to helping Cleveland expedite airport closure

Haneda Plans Three-strikes Rule To Bench Errant Pilots

Restriction targets individual pilots, not the operator or aircraft

Local Groups Band Together To Support Lakefront Airport

Groups point to $195 million in economic contribution

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN