The GMR group-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has given low-cost airline IndiGo two more months to shift a part of its flight operations from Terminal-1 to Terminal-2 of the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA). DIAL aims to expand T-1, but the airline had opposed the terminal shifting plan.
“We, in the interest of passengers, provide to IndiGo a further time for shifting its stated operations to Terminal-2. Kindly plan your activities in a manner that from January 4, 2018, the flights of IndiGo operating to and from Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru shall be operated from Terminal-2 only,” DIAL chief commercial operations Pradeep Panicker wrote in a letter to IndiGo president and whole-time director Aditya Ghosh on Saturday.
DIAL had directed airlines operating out of T-1 — IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir — to move their flight operations serving Kolkata, Bengaluru and Mumbai to T-2 from October 29 to expand the overcrowded T-1.
‘Will disrupt operations’
While GoAir agreed to shift its entire flight operations to Terminal-2, SpiceJet and IndiGo are not on board yet leading to delay in Delhi airport’s terminal expansion plan.
IndiGo had told DIAL that it will not support shifting of flights to the three metros to T-2 as it will disrupt its operations. Instead, it had proposed shifting of its “entire operation to T-2 to provide a far better customer experience” than the proposed plan of splitting flight operations.
SpiceJet has said that it will shift its flights serving the three metros to T-2 only if IndiGo agrees with a similar plan, sources said.
In its fresh missive, DIAL has told IndiGo that the airline will be liable for the loss caused to the airport operator due to delay in terminal expansion plan.
“It would be pertinent to state that if DIAL or if any of the passengers suffer any loss, damage, cost of expenses due to the adamant approach and abstinence of IndiGo from shifting one-third of its current operations at T1 to T2, it shall be to the sole account of IndiGo and which it shall be liable to indemnify to DIAL and the passengers,” Mr. Panicker said.
‘Creating roadblocks’
DIAL said that IndiGo is “attempting to create roadblocks in carrying out the timely expansion of T-1”.
IndiGo has termed DIAL’s plan to ask SpiceJet and IndiGo to shift one-third of its flight operations, while allowing GoAir to operate all its flights from Terminal-2, as “illegal and arbitrary”.
However, DIAL defended the terminal shifting plan saying it is “fair and non-discriminatory”.
Delhi airport’s T-1 handles 24 million passengers annually against its design capacity of 20 million passengers. T-1 is set to be expanded from the current capacity of 20 million to 40 million passengers per annum.
