The Vadodara airport is set to receive its second-ever international flight, as per The Indian Express. The airport previously welcomed a flight carrying Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on July 22, when they visited Ekta Nagar (formerly Kevadia).
This time, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will be arriving to join Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the inauguration of the Tata-Airbus TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) manufacturing facility, where the C-295 transport aircraft for the Indian Air Force will be built, on October 28. Additionally, a “vital bilateral meeting” will take place at the iconic Lukshmi Vilas Palace.
Preparations
The Commissioner of Police on Wednesday held a high-level meeting to assess the security arrangements at the airport.
A temporary Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine (CIQ) facility will be established at the airport to process incoming visitors, with immigration officers from Ahmedabad International Airport assigned to assist.
The Officiating Airport Director, Pradeep Dobriyal, just as in the case of the Bhutan King’s flight, the Ahmedabad immigration officers will set up a facility in Vadodara to allow easy entry, this time as well. “The operations are expected to be managed in such a way that there is no alteration in the schedule of the regular flights,” he added.
Dobriyal said that the airport has received information of only one aircraft landing from Spain with Sánchez and his delegation. “It has been communicated to us that their departure will be an international one; they will depart from Vadodara some time on October 28,” he added.
Officials stated that the VIP delegation from Spain, along with dignitaries attending the event, will be guided through the old airport terminal to avoid inconveniencing regular domestic travelers.
In response to a series of bomb threats directed at airlines nationwide, Vadodara Commissioner of Police Narasimha Komar convened a high-level meeting at the old terminal on Wednesday. Attendees included senior police officers, airport authorities, CISF staff, and other security agencies. Komar emphasised that any actions regarding bomb threats would adhere to the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) set by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. He highlighted the importance of securing the airport for regular flights and passengers, stating that the Special Operations Group and Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad have been deployed.