On-time flights just a fancy idea, finds survey
Flighty delays continue to dog passengers at almost all metro airports despite the recent steps taken to expand capacity and modernise traffic management.
By Nirbhay Kumar, TNN |
NEW DELHI: Flighty delays continue to dog passengers at almost all metro airports despite the recent steps taken to expand capacity and modernise traffic management. About 50% domestic and international flights from Kolkata, Hyderabad and Chennai run behind schedule, a survey by the civil aviation ministry has found.
“A recent analysis on delay in flights over a week for three airports — Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata showed delays to the extent of 40% to 50%,” an official in the ministry of civil aviation said.
With foggy winter round the corner, the situation may aggravate. According to the winter schedule announced last month, the number of flights at Delhi and Mumbai airport have been increased by about 7%. Last year, the Delhi airport operator, Delhi International Airport (DIAL), had to put up tent and shamianas outside the domestic terminal to accommodate passengers. As many flights could not take off due to low visibility, hundreds of passengers remained stranded at the airport.
To keep the situation in control, the government has this time warned airlines to train their pilots on CAT III instrument landing system (ILS). CAT III allows planes take off and land at a visibility as less as 50 metres. The government has said that airlines not sticking to their schedule may lose their slot for the entire season. The Delhi airport has the advanced CAT IIIB landing system that can handle 28 aircraft per hour during the peak season.
Earlier, the civil aviation minister Praful Patel had also said that delay in departure of the flights lead to cascading effect and caused delay to other flights. He had indicated that airlines may be penalised for not taking off on time.
The slot selection committee headed by the joint secretary in the ministry of civil aviation, K N Shrivastava, while allocating slots for the winter season said that airlines should adhere to approved flight schedule and maintain ‘on-time’ performance. Defaulters stand to lose their slots in the next season.
“A recent analysis on delay in flights over a week for three airports — Hyderabad, Chennai and Kolkata showed delays to the extent of 40% to 50%,” an official in the ministry of civil aviation said.
With foggy winter round the corner, the situation may aggravate. According to the winter schedule announced last month, the number of flights at Delhi and Mumbai airport have been increased by about 7%. Last year, the Delhi airport operator, Delhi International Airport (DIAL), had to put up tent and shamianas outside the domestic terminal to accommodate passengers. As many flights could not take off due to low visibility, hundreds of passengers remained stranded at the airport.
To keep the situation in control, the government has this time warned airlines to train their pilots on CAT III instrument landing system (ILS). CAT III allows planes take off and land at a visibility as less as 50 metres. The government has said that airlines not sticking to their schedule may lose their slot for the entire season. The Delhi airport has the advanced CAT IIIB landing system that can handle 28 aircraft per hour during the peak season.
Earlier, the civil aviation minister Praful Patel had also said that delay in departure of the flights lead to cascading effect and caused delay to other flights. He had indicated that airlines may be penalised for not taking off on time.
The slot selection committee headed by the joint secretary in the ministry of civil aviation, K N Shrivastava, while allocating slots for the winter season said that airlines should adhere to approved flight schedule and maintain ‘on-time’ performance. Defaulters stand to lose their slots in the next season.
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