Airlines may not be in favour of the new international terminal being opened for public use without the availability of necessary facilities, said sources. The Airline Operators Committee (AOC), comprising representatives from airline operators, met the Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal on Saturday in this regard.
“The new terminal will open in mid-May but may not operate separately and will require the old terminal to function for a while. The new international terminal will not have an inline baggage screening system. We are also unsure how procedures including check-in, customs, security and immigration can be carried out in both terminals without disturbing passengers,” said an official.
The opening of the new terminal has also been plagued by shortage of manpower in CISF, customs and immigration. Customs officials had said that due to inadequate staff, it may be difficult for them to simultaneously operate from both the terminals.
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Sources also said that nearly 70 per cent of the flights may be able to operate only from the old terminal.
“The issue with the ramp that affected the domestic terminal may be there in the new international terminal too,” another official said.
Airport director H.S. Suresh said, “Both departure and arrival will operate simultaneously from both the terminals for a while. The terminal will be opened as soon as we get the necessary manpower.”
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