Puducherry's Enlarged Airport Set to Begin Domestic Operations

Strategic Insights -

The Puducherry administration has finalized plans to commence domestic operations from the newly enlarged airport at Puducherry, with low-fare operator Spice Jet set to launch services to Bangalore on 10 October. Spice Jet has received clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to operate the flight. Air India, Jet Airways, and Kingfishers have also dispatched technical teams to assess the feasibility of operating flights from the airport. The airport's expansion was completed in two phases, with the first phase extending the runway by 260 meters and the second phase adding an additional 1100 meters, enabling the operation of large aircraft.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Puducherry administration has finalized plans to commence domestic operations at the newly enlarged airport, with Spice Jet launching services to Bangalore on 10 October.
  • The airport's expansion was completed in two phases, with the first phase extending the existing runway by 260 meters and the second phase adding an additional 1100 meters.
  • The runway length has been extended from 1222 meters to 1482 meters, enabling the operation of large aircraft.
  • The airport now has the facilities for night landing of aircraft, and a terminal building capable of handling 300 passengers is under construction and expected to be completed by the end of this year.
  • Spice Jet has received clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation to operate the flight.
  • Air India, Jet Airways, and Kingfishers have dispatched technical teams to assess the feasibility of operating flights from the airport.
  • The expansion of the airport was undertaken in coordination with the Airports Authority of India (AAI), with a Memorandum of Understanding signed in June 2007.

Statistics:

  • The airport's runway has been extended by 260 meters in the first phase and an additional 1100 meters in the second phase, for a total extension of 1360 meters.
  • The new runway length of 1482 meters is sufficient to operate large aircraft.
  • The airport now has the facilities for night landing of aircraft.
  • The terminal building under construction will be capable of handling 300 passengers.

Sources:

  • Puducherry Assembly (no date)
  • Ministry of Civil Aviation (no date)
  • Airports Authority of India (no date)