TEAM HERALD
VASCO: Keeping in view Goa as an important tourist destination for foreign and domestic tourists and not to hamper the flight timing at Dabolim airport, the navy has decided to carry out maintenance work of the runway in three phases.
The navy took the decision during a meeting with Airport Director M Suresh and stakeholders in the airline industry on Wednesday.
Suresh told Herald that during the meeting, the Navy was kind enough to pay heed to their request to extend the flight handling timing at Dabolim airport. “The Navy has come out with a good solution so that the maintenance work of the runway and handling of flights will go on without any hindrance,” said Suresh.
“The Navy has decided to take up maintenance work of the runway in three phases, as the runway is divided into three phases. The first phase of the runway comprising 2,343 metres will be taken up from October to November 2014, while the second phase, the end portion of the runway comprising 2,419 metres, will be taken up from December 2014 to January 2015,” he informed.
“During the first and second phases, the flight operation will be for 24 hours. The third phase, the middle portion of the runway, will be taken up from February 2015 to May 2015 and the flight operations will be restricted to eight hours starting from 5 or 6 am to 1 or 2 pm,” added Suresh.
Suresh further said except for big Boeings like 747, all other flights will be allowed to land while carrying out the maintenance work. “However, lower version of big Boeing 777 will be allowed to land,” he added.
“The Airline Operators Committee represented by their official requested the navy to extend the flight operation during the third phase from eight hours to 10 hours to accommodate all the flights,” said Suresh.
“Due to maintenance work of the runway, about 70% of the tourists will be handled during the new season. However, efforts will be made to handle 100% tourists,” said Suresh.
“Presently, AAI handles 1,141 flights during the season and there will be no reduction in the coming season due to maintenance work of the runway. Efforts are on not to reduce the flight operations during the third phase,” added Suresh.
Commenting on the new airport terminal and the facilities to be provided for tourists during the next season, Suresh said the new airport terminal is big compared to the old airport terminal and various facilities, right from shopping centre, international brand of fast food, stalls having take-away sweet products, Indian Jewellery, will be at sale.
“Garments stalls with famous Indian saris and other readymade garments and sale of Indian and Goan souvenirs will be kept on display at the stalls to cater the international and domestic tourists,” he added.
