http://www.businessworldindia.com/issue/news01.asp
Interview / praful patel 'I'm All for Competition' Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel is in favour of more competition among airports. However, it all has to be done in a thought-out manner, he affirms. The reason: **states are bound by contractual obligations to not allow new greenfield airports within a certain radius of an international airport (150 km).** In a candid talk with BW's Anjuli Bhargava, Patel expressed his opinion on a few issues surrounding Indian aviation. Excerpts: On competition We want to see more competition between airports and we want more greenfield airports coming up. We will have to see how this can best be done. **A bill or some other directive to encourage competition among airports could be introduced at some stage. Many private sector players including Air Deccan have been arguing for more competition among airports to get better rates. *In Bangalore, for instance, low-cost operators are keen that the existing HAL facility be converted to a low-cost facility for their use.* There is no new facility coming up at Bidadi, near Bangalore. Bids will, however, be invited soon for the *new airports in Navi Mumbai with 100 per cent private ownership,* but we need Cabinet approval for this.** Airports the world over compete for traffic, with airlines often choosing their airport of use based on the rates offered by the airport for landing, navigation and other charges. That's why we need a civil aviation regulatory authority.>> ----------------------------- In the case of Goa (i.e. Dabolim + Mopa) the proposed civil aviation regulatory authority must ensure that the competition is healthy and BOTH airports survive in the long term. One cannot competitively drive the other out of business. For this to happen, Mopa has to be (re-)designed to be a back up for Dabolim to begin with and scale up in a modular and calibrated way. And, of course, Dabolim has to revert to its original civilian status. Both airports have to be managed -- and regulated -- as an integrated unit. _____________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. Goanet mailing list ([email protected])
