Low-cost carrier, Indigo, has finally announced operation of its international flights from the new Terminal 3 (T3) at New Delhi. Earlier, the airline had announced these operations from terminal 1D, but got no positive response from the Government.
The airline's first international flight will take off for Dubai on September 1, followed by flights to Bangkok and Singapore.
Constraints
Earlier, there was a view that all low-cost carriers would operate both domestic and international flights from terminal 1D.
The airport operator, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), had even blocked some portion of the terminal and started constructing customs and immigration counters. However, according to sources, it was felt that allowing Indigo to operate international and domestic flights from 1D would lead to severe space constraints.
Besides, it will also lead to T3 remaining unutilised as other international carriers operate their flights from the new terminal. The custom and emigration officials, too, protested that did not have enough manpower.
The Civil Aviation Ministry and the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) supported these arguments, which forced Indigo to change its plan, the sources added.
Experts opinion
However, all domestic flights of not just Indigo, but also SpiceJet and GoAir, will continue from terminal 1D. SpiceJet is using T3 for its international operations, which is some kilometres away from 1D. Experts say that shifting of international operations to T3 will impact the airline's logistics. “The airline will have to create two different operation units, one for domestic and another for international.
“Second, it will have to pay extra for supply of fuel from the underground system and new baggage screening,” said Mr Kapil Kaul, CEO (South Asia and India), Centre for Asia-Pacific Aviation (CAPA).
Mr Kaul said Indigo's operational cost might increase marginally and is unlikely to be passed on to passengers. But, passengers would get a better experience at T3. Air India, Jet, Kingfisher operate their domestic as well as international flights from T3.
Indigo CEO, Mr Aditya Ghosh, did not reply to queries.