IGI T3 begins full-scale operations
NEW DELHI: International operations from the newly-built terminal, T3, will finally commence from today. After 4.45pm, only one arrival and two departures will take place from the old terminal T2 while the rest would shift to T3. However, a question mark continues to hang over the start of domestic operations at T3 — scheduled from August 27 — with reports that some work is still left in that part of the building.
According to highly placed sources, the start of international operations might actually be responsible for a delay in starting domestic operations from the new terminal. "Once security is beefed up at the international side, specially since Independence Day (August 15) is approaching, accessing the domestic section of the terminal building will not be as easy and that might slow down the remaining construction work. While we are trying to meet the August deadline, we will have to review the preparatory status once international operations start and we might have to revise the date for commencement of domestic operations," said a senior airport official.
Operations were supposed to have shifted to the new terminal in the beginning of the month but plans were postponed as the management ostensibly wanted airlines to get a feel of the terminal through trial flights. Sources, however, alleged that a lot of construction work was pending. Airline officials, meanwhile, said their back offices were not yet ready.
Meanwhile, a day before international flights were to move into the new terminal, there were frenetic activities at the IGI Airport as several airlines shifted their operation departments into the new building on Tuesday. A parliamentary committee also visited the terminal in the evening. "We are absolutely prepared to move into the new terminal. The building is ready and everything is in place. The move has been planned for Wednesday between 2pm and 7.30pm as this period sees the least number of operations during the week and it would be easier for airlines to move from the old building once their morning flights have been taken care of," said Andrew Harrison, COO, Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd (DIAL).
The terminal, the eighth largest in the world, boasts of some of the best facilities in the country. Officials say that at no point would passengers have to walk more than 650m if they follow a straight path from the entry to their boarding gates thanks to travelators.
They added that it should not take more than 45 minutes for a passenger to be able to complete all pre-boarding formalities.
As a safety measure, passengers moving from the international terminal to domestic terminal 1D will be taken in transit buses from the main road instead.
According to highly placed sources, the start of international operations might actually be responsible for a delay in starting domestic operations from the new terminal. "Once security is beefed up at the international side, specially since Independence Day (August 15) is approaching, accessing the domestic section of the terminal building will not be as easy and that might slow down the remaining construction work. While we are trying to meet the August deadline, we will have to review the preparatory status once international operations start and we might have to revise the date for commencement of domestic operations," said a senior airport official.
Operations were supposed to have shifted to the new terminal in the beginning of the month but plans were postponed as the management ostensibly wanted airlines to get a feel of the terminal through trial flights. Sources, however, alleged that a lot of construction work was pending. Airline officials, meanwhile, said their back offices were not yet ready.
Meanwhile, a day before international flights were to move into the new terminal, there were frenetic activities at the IGI Airport as several airlines shifted their operation departments into the new building on Tuesday. A parliamentary committee also visited the terminal in the evening. "We are absolutely prepared to move into the new terminal. The building is ready and everything is in place. The move has been planned for Wednesday between 2pm and 7.30pm as this period sees the least number of operations during the week and it would be easier for airlines to move from the old building once their morning flights have been taken care of," said Andrew Harrison, COO, Delhi International Airport (P) Ltd (DIAL).
The terminal, the eighth largest in the world, boasts of some of the best facilities in the country. Officials say that at no point would passengers have to walk more than 650m if they follow a straight path from the entry to their boarding gates thanks to travelators.
They added that it should not take more than 45 minutes for a passenger to be able to complete all pre-boarding formalities.
As a safety measure, passengers moving from the international terminal to domestic terminal 1D will be taken in transit buses from the main road instead.
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