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Exclusive terminal: New Delhi’s T1D may go all IndiGo
In a first-of-its-kind agreement, budget carrier IndiGo, India’s biggest airline by market share, may get Delhi airport’s domestic terminal, better known as Terminal 1D, for its exclusive use.
n a first-of-its-kind agreement, budget carrier IndiGo, India’s biggest airline by market share, may get Delhi airport’s domestic terminal, better known as Terminal 1D, for its exclusive use.
Civil aviation secretary RN Choubey confirmed to HT that talks between GMR-led Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), the consortium that operates the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, and IndiGo were at an “active” stage. “Talks are now at a very active stage between the airport operator and airlines.”
Besides IndiGo, T1D is used by low-cost carriers SpiceJet and GoAir for domestic operations. IGI’s T3 handles all international, as well as some local flights.
“This discussion has got an operational and a commercial dimension so the airport operator and airlines have to sit together. They are doing so and talking about the details,” said Choubey.
The exercise, however, is unlikely to be a smooth one. Both SpiceJet and GoAir have resisted the move to shift out of T1D.
“We have opposed the move to shift us out of T1,” said SpiceJet spokesperson Ajay Jasra.
Sources said both SpiceJet and GoAir have argued that no single airline should be favoured and, if need be, all three should be moved out.
“T1D is far more accessible, much easier and quicker to check-in and exit, and is much preferred by passengers. The taxiing time for planes is lesser, so we save on fuel. If DIAL has to renovate the terminal or if an airline wants an exclusive terminal, why don’t you move them to T2 (cargo terminal)?” questioned an airline official, who did not wish to be named.
While IndiGo did not offer comments, a DIAL spokesperson said: “All our terminals are common-use facilities. There is no such deal with any airline for exclusive use of any terminals.”
“There is no bar on such a kind of arrangement taking place, but it is an operational and a commercial decision between the airport operator and airlines. It depends on the size of operations. If the airport operator feels that the size of the operation of a particular airline meets certain requirements, it is for the operator and airlines to come to a commercial decision. The ministry could play the role of a facilitator if the stage comes to that,” said Choubey.
