Slots denied to airlines as Chennai Airport reaches saturation point
Posted on: 05/Jan/2016 12:12:39 PM
Infrastructural problems have delayed the Airports Authority of India`s (AAI) plans to expand the Chennai Airport. When airlines applied for schedules this year, officials were forced to deny airlines no less than 10 slots for flights, which were divided into 5 for landing and 5 for take off. Delays in the launch of the new international arrival terminal and the unfinished second runway are the reasons cited.
Due to these problems, flights have been shifted to Kempe Gowda International Airport in Bengaluru or Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad. Chennai`s airport is unable to accommodate more flights and passengers during the peak hours in the mornings and evenings.
Speaking about this, a senior airport official said, `We have had to refuse slots to airlines because of limitations in capacity. Most airlines want peak hour slots, which we were not able to provide. In many cases airlines decide not to operate if they do not get preferred slots.`
