Aerospace Diary

Neelam Mathews June11, 2023 The ambitious airport project by developers at Gulbarga is facing cost issues with IL&FS defaulting and dilly dallying on its promise to clear funds it had committed, a letter by the Karnataka  government in early April, alluded. The deadline given for end May has passed and no word has come in from IL&FS we learn, from state government sources. "This is a big jolt to the government's touted regional airlines policy. Developers will not come in with money if partners default like this," said an airline official on anonymity. RAHI, the developer had, enthusiastically planned 99 regional airports for India after the government had said it wanted to improve and extend connectivity to remote areas. The Karnataka government had written to the shareholders, the letter was reviewed by Aerospacediary, to "quickly get back ..with a comprehensive plan by completing construction of the airport...by adhering to the extended timeline......

Airports Aviation Daily Aug 24 , 2010 , p. 07 Neelam Mathews The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has asked the government to make changes to the aviation policy that currently waives landing and parking charges for aircraft with less than 80 seats operated by domestic scheduled operators and helicopters of all types. It is time to start charging parking and landing fees for these aircraft, says AAI, as it will give a boost to the development of regional airports it is currently upgrading and constructing. Currently, some private regional airports are losing money including five in Maharashtra set up by the Reliance Group. “This is simply because there is not enough traffic to support them. There are no sources of revenue including retail, [food and beverage] and revenue from hangars. Some charges for landing will need to be enforced to get return on investment for the operators,” says Ansgar Sickert, managing director of Fraport India. “The present policy does not work as ...

News Asia’s Airports Vie For Service From Burgeoning Budget Carriers Aviation Daily Jan 28 , 2010 , p. 09 Neelam Mathews Asia’s regional airports are exploring new ways to attract budget carriers that are on the road to expansion as legacy carriers continue to limp back to normalcy. While each airport has a different approach, Viva Macau Acting CEO Reginald Macdonald said at the Regional Airports World Conference in Singapore this week that “landing charges are the key. It is flexibility of the airport team and a mindset to route development that is important.” Given that budget carriers are volatile, the Civil Aviation Authority in Macau signed 10-year agreements with budget carriers in 2004, but is no longer signing any long-term agreements. Macau has five budget carriers flying to it and has plans to announce another one soon. “Our incentives are good,” said Antonio Rato, director of marketing at Macau International Airport. Macdonald praised Melbourne Airport for its flexibility an...