New Delhi, Oct 13 (PTI) No-frills airline GoAir will shift its entire operations to terminal 2 (T2) of the Delhi airport from October 29 till expansion work at terminal 1 (T1) is complete, according to a statement.
The carrier is the first one to agree to shifting operations to the revamped T2 while competitors — IndiGo and SpiceJet — are yet to agree to the airport operator’s proposal for partially shifting their flights to T2.
T2 would be operational from October 29, a joint statement issued by airport operator DIAL and GoAir said.
“GoAir becomes the first airline to accept DIAL’s proposal and decided to shift its entire operations to Terminal 2 with effect from 0001 hours of October 29,” it added.
The release said the shifting is a temporary move to ease the pressure of fast growing traffic at T1.
GoAir MD Jeh Wadia said the move to shift to T2 would help the airline expand and further improve connectivity to more destinations from the national capital. It would also help add more frequency to existing connections, he added.
Wadia noted that it is moving to newly furbished T2 in order to support the government and DIAL’s plans to upgrade and expand the airport facilities as well as continuously improve the customer experience.
“We welcome GoAir in its new home terminal in T2. This will enable us to start the expansion works at T1 and carry it on seamlessly,” DIAL CEO I Prabhakara Rao said.
All infrastructures at T2 are fully ready and DIAL (Delhi International Airport Ltd) is “planning to initiate the ORAT (Operational Readiness and Airport Transfer) procedures with effect from October 17, 2017, 12 days prior to the re- commencement date of T2”.
Under the master plan, T1’s annual passenger handling capacity is to be expanded from 20 million to 40 million with 22 aerobridges and other facilities.
“The expansion process will encompass all major areas of the airport ie land side, terminal and air side and will be completed within four years,” the release said.