Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032155780100.htm

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Shamshabad airport gets clearance

Special Correspondent

To become operational from Mar. 23; Lufthansa flight to land at 0025 hours on Sunday

A file photo

Ready for take-ofF: A view of the Shamshabad Airport.

HYDERABAD: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MOCA) has cleared the air of uncertainty looming over the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad near here by announcing that it will commence operations from midnight of Saturday.

MOCA’s announcement ended the week-long suspense over when Shamshabad would become functional after it abruptly withdrew its green signal to GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) to commence commercial operations on March 16. Relieved over the fresh notification, the company said a Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt would land here at 0025 hours on Sunday.

A company spokesman said GHIAL was ready in all aspects by March 15 itself. The postponement had come as a blessing in disguise since the company could now give the finishing touches to areas earmarked for retail outlets and car parking. He reiterated that IATA’s code “HYD” would be transferred to Shamshabad and the Begumpet airport could no longer operate any commercial flights.

Addressing one of the concerns, the GHIAL announced that the User Development Fee (UDF) would not be levied for five days and there would be no car parking fee for a full week.

However, US $25 (Rs. 1,000 app.) would be levied on outbound international passengers from March 28.

GMR Airports Chairman Kiran Kumar Grandhi announced on March 3 that user fee would not be collected for now from domestic travellers.

It would be finalised after due consultations with the users and stakeholders as the company was sensitive to their concerns.

Landing charges

When contacted, an official of a leading private airline said that all operators would have to fall in line after the Ministry’s notification. He said that landing charges at Shamshabad were not the bone of contention at all since they remained the same as at Begumpet.

However, the GHIAL had apparently re-negotiated its agreement with its ground handler and reduced the concession fee for both international and domestic flights. But it remains to be seen whether this would be passed on to the carriers.