IATA official Albert Tjoeng said here on Tuesday that a city should have a second airport only in cases where the first one could not be expanded. A city would not need a second airport if the first one has adequate land for the expansion of facilities, he added. Responding to a question on the controversy relating to closure of the existing airports in Bangalore and Hyderabad, he said having one hub was important from the point of view of airlines too.
“Carriers need a strong hub. Having one airport in one city provides that,” he pointed out.
On the confusion reportedly created by the new Hyderabad airport for pilots, he said it was imperative that the new airports were opened only after proper time and notice was given to all concerned.
The IATA official, who gave a presentation at a meet organized by the Asia-Pacific Aviation Media Association, also feared that the losses being suffered by the airlines across the world including India, would continue to mount.
“The outlook for 2008 has weakened sharply. International passenger demand grew by 4.3 per cent in January, 2008 which was sharply down from the 6.7 per cent recorded in December. International cargo demand growth has remained sluggish.”
Noting that the soaring prices of jet fuel was one of the main reasons for the losses besides the credit crunch and US economic recession, Tjoeng said airline profits were expected to be lower at $ 5 billion in 2008 down from the previous forecast of $ 7.8 billion.
Tjoeng expressed satisfaction over the progress in India of e-ticketing. IATA has fixed end-May, 2008, for 100 per cent implementation of e-ticket the world over.
India, he said, showed a progress of 91 per cent and hoped that it would achieve 100 per cent by May. While the global percentage was 93 per cent, that of Asia-Pacific was 88 per cent. He disclosed that 100 per cent e-ticketing would save $3 billion annually. It also meant saving of about 50,000 mature trees or five square miles of forest per year.
DRAGONAIR DELAYS FLIGHT
New Delhi, dhns:
Postponement of the opening of the Bangalore International Airport has forced at least one airline to change its plans for the city. Hong Kong-based Dragonair has announced that it will reschedule the launch of its new service to Bangalore.
The airline, which was originally scheduled to launch its maiden flight from Bangalore to Hong Kong on May 1, will now do so only on May 24. “The rescheduling is the result of an Indian Civil Aviation Ministry decision to postpone the opening of the new Bangalore International Airport until May 10/11,” the airline said.
The May 24 launch, nevertheless, marks the first-ever flight out of Bangalore to Hong Kong. This will also be the maiden flight of the airline to India. The airline said alternative arrangements were being made for passengers who had made bookings on Dragonair’s flights to and from Bangalore before May 24.
