Team Herald
PANJIM/VASCO: Ahead of the opening of the tourist season, the tourism industry fears there could be a significant drop in charter flights in view of Indian Navy’s restrictions in landing times at Dabolim international airport.
The season commences on October 1 with the first charter flight due to arrive on that day from Russia. Information with Herald reveals that while the Russian charter is lucky to find a slot on Sunday, another charter flying from UK is struggling to get a slot.
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa (TTAG) has stated that the revised schedule on the closure of airport for international flights by the Indian Navy resulted in the present crisis.
“The Indian Navy shuts the airport from 8.30am to 12.30pm from Monday to Friday, while Saturday and Sundays were open. But the closure days are now extended to all seven days. Moreover, permission to land at 10.30am and take off at 12.30pm has also been withdrawn,” TTAG President Savio Messias said speaking to Herald.
“If this continues then we are going to have very poor arrival of chartered flights this year. Due to issues of landing slots at Dabolim airport, one British chartered operator who has been coming to Goa with international tourists every year has decided to pull out this season, similarly there are many other Russian operators who have decided to pull out because they are very unhappy and moreover disappointed with the landing slots” he claimed.
It is learnt that most of the international flights have now been asked to arrive during the night. “We are expecting less charter flights this season,” Messias stated, adding that the change in slots were informed to all concerned just a few days ago.
Messias said that the TTAG has taken up this issue before the State government and had even asked Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to intervene, however, the TTAG has no got any response till date on the issue.
“This issue involves Defence ministry since Dabolim is a naval airport and also the civil aviation ministry, sadly despite of our representation before the state government to address the issue, so far we have not got any response from any authorities and we only hope that something should be done on priority,” he added.
Sources said that Oman Airways has been asked to change its timing, and instead utilise the timing between 3am and 4am, and post 8am.
The State had expected an increase in charter flights by 25 percent this season compared to last season’s that saw the figure touching 1,000. This year too, a large number of arrivals from UK and Russia were expected, however, with the lack of slots for landing, TTAG fears operators could cancel their trips to Goa.
