‘New route’ helps airlines save fuel

It has cut down flying time of all aircrafts arrivingfrom Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Tiruchi

Air Traffic Controllers monitoring the movement of flights at the Tiruchi airport.— File photo

Ever since the new Air Traffic Service (ATS) connector route for overseas flights operating from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Tiruchi international airport was introduced, the benefits for airline operators have been huge in terms of fuel and cost savings.

The ATS route “Tango 3” has paved the way for four carriers in not only cutting down flying time in the Singapore – Tiruchi and Kuala Lumpur – Tiruchi sectors but also helped them save precious aviation turbine fuel every day and reduce carbon emissions.

The Air Space Management of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had introduced in 2012 the new route which was initially christened as “Victor 31” for flights operating in the Singapore – Tiruchi and Kuala Lumpur – Tiruchi sectors. It was recently re-designated as “Tango 3”.

The implementation of “Tango 3” route has facilitated the flights to make a “straight-in approach” for Instrument Landing System at the airport here instead of making an “arc approach,” an official told

The Hindu .

The new route has cut down flying time of all aircrafts arriving from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur to Tiruchi by 17 minutes (that is 85 nautical miles reduced in terms of distance). The normal flying time between Singapore or Kuala Lumpur is around four hours, say officials.

The Tiger Airways and Air India Express operate flights from Singapore to Tiruchi, while Air Asia and Malindo Air operate flights from Kuala Lumpur to Tiruchi every day.

The Air Asia flight operates 90 flights a month while the Tiger Airways and Malindo Air operate 60 flights each a month. The Air India Express operates 30 flights a month.

The Tiruchi airport authorities have calculated the extent of fuel saved by each flight per month as well as the cost saving by the airline operators, the reduction in carbon emission every month.

The total cost saved by the four airlines flying on the new route works out to around Rs. 58 lakh a month, according to Tiruchi airport authorities. The difference in flying distance between the earlier procedure and the new ATS route was considered taking the thumb rule of 7 kilogram per nautical mile while making the fuel saving calculation, the officials said.

The extent of fuel and cost saved by each airline and the corresponding reduction in carbon emissions have been conveyed to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, said a senior official.