Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport has seen a manifold increase in the movement of international flights in last three years.
Several international airlines had so far kept their operations away from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International airport, but it has seen a manifold increase in the movement of international non-commercial flights in the last three years.
The visit by such flights, also known as non-scheduled aircraft, from foreign countries has seen a sharp 55% rise over the last three years. In 2008-09, a total of 364 arrivals and departures happened because of non-scheduled international flight movements while the number grew to 391 in 2009-10.
In 2010-11 the airport registered 578 non-scheduled international flight movements. However, the domestic non-scheduled movement has not seen any clear trend.
In 2008-09, there were a total of 2,070 arrivals and departures by non-scheduled domestic flights while it was 2,590 in 2009-10. In 2010-11, the number reduced to 2,174 movements.
Airport officials attribute a number of reasons to the increase in international non-scheduled flights coming to the airport. They said that the international status of SVPI airport is a major factor behind the increased numbers.
Any flight originating from the West and Middle East coming to India has to pass through Ahmedabad as it falls on the international air traffic route.
“Mumbai is always congested thanks to the heavy traffic. Since Ahmedabad airport has international status most of the flights that want to navigate the country further, especially the western region, makes a halt here.
Moreover, we have customs and immigration facilities which don’t consume much time, compared to Mumbai and Delhi. This is also one reason why a large number of private flight movements are recorded here,” said airport officials.
He further stated that on international air traffic route, the flights can only land at international airports. Therefore, flights coming from Middle East and Europe frequently land at Ahmedabad airport for technical and other clearances.
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