New Delhi, September 10, 2014 – Karnataka will have two of the five no-frills airports that the Government plans to set up to promote regional air connectivity, tourism and other economic activities in tier II and tier III cities.
A senior official of the Airports Authority of India told newspersons here on Tuesday that apart from Hubli and Belgaum in Karnataka, Tezu (Arunachal Pradesh), Kishanganj (Rajasthan) and Jharsuguda (Odisha) will also have low-cost airports.
Setting up no-frills airports is part of the Government’s 100-day agenda.
“We do not want to add to airlines’ costs so we are creating no-frills airports. As and when the airport picks up and passengers want the frills we can add them,’’ said Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Union Civil Aviation Minister, at a press conference. A no-frills airport will be a basic structure at which a small aircraft can land safely. But unlike airports in large cities such as Delhi and Mumbai there will be no luxurious air-conditioned waiting areas and conveyor belts to deliver luggage at these airports.
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A one-stop shop (http://www.dgca.nic.in/kyrdgca) for information on flights delayed or cancelled, denial of boarding, loss or delay of baggage, and matters relating to bookings, airfare and refunds was also inaugurated by Raju. The website will also have information for passengers requiring special assistance including those with disability.
Meanwhile, the Ministry is keen that US immigration clearance for air travellers going to the United States is completed in Mumbai and Delhi airports. Sources indicated that this issue could figure in the discussions that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold during his US visit scheduled for later this month.
At the moment, Abu Dhabi is one of the cities outside the US from which US immigration is completed before a passenger departs the Gulf state thus making a flight from Abu Dhabi to US a domestic one. Passengers can get off the aircraft pick up their bags and walk out instead of clearing immigration in an airport in the US. Business Line
