A rift has cropped up between budget carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet and GMR-backed Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) over shifting the former from the existing departure terminal to the upcoming integrated terminal, also called T3. The private airport operator plans to move all the full-service and international carriers to the new terminal following commissioning of T3 in July.
Low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet would, however, be allowed to operate from the existing terminal till March 2011. DIAL has proposed to shift them to the integrated terminal after that. IndiGo and SpiceJet have opposed the proposed move saying that it would increase their operational costs.
?The airport operator had earlier said that it will allow budget carriers to operate from the existing 1D terminal. Now they want both IndiGo and SpiceJet to move to T3. This will impact dwell time for passengers and turnaround time for aircraft,? industry sources familiar to the development told FE.
Replying to a query on the issue, DIAL said, ?There is no change in the earlier decision to allow low-cost carriers (LCCs) to operate from the existing 1D. Stand alone, low-cost airlines like Go Air, IndiGo and Spice Jet will continue to operate from 1D, even after commissioning T3 in July, 2010.??The low-cost arms of full fare carriers would, however, shift to T3 along with the parent carrier, so that transfer (of international passenger to domestic and vice-versa) is seamless and is in consonance with DIAL?s vision to develop Delhi into a Hub,? the company said.
The no-frills carriers are of the view that the transition next year would result into higher operational costs as huge investment would required to build new terminal which has to be eventually recovered from customers (airlines). DIAL is estimated to have invested about Rs 12,700 crore in upgrading the Indira Gandhi International airport.
?If airlines are forced to shift they will have no option but to pass on additional cost to passengers,? sources said.