Stakeholders object to Jaipur Airport closure
Tourism stakeholders in Rajasthan are concerned by the proposed runway closure at Jaipur International Airport which will be damaging to business under proposed plans.
From 28 October, Airport Authorities of India (AAI) plan to close the airport between the hours of 11am and 6pm each day for a period of up to two years, while runway extension works are carried out.
As many as 18 flights a day will not be able to operate within the restricted timings and the concerned airlines will have to either re-schedule or cancel these flights.
A large number of international conferences to be held in Jaipur during the peak months, as well as the normal tourist arrivals, will be adversely hit by the AAI decision. Industry associations fear that some foreign tour operators may decide not to promote Rajasthan because of the proposed step.
IATO Rajasthan chapter, the Hotel Restaurant Association of Rajasthan, Rajasthan Association of Tour Operators, and Indian Heritage Hotel Association suggest in a memorandum to the Rajasthan Tourism Minister Bina Kak, that works are conducted from 1 October to 1 December and 1 February to 31 March between hours of 11pm and 5am. The two international flights by Oman Air and Air Arabia between 3am and 5am could then be rescheduled accordingly.
The associations have suggested that all work be stopped during December and January, when the airport is required for possible diversions due to winter conditions in Delhi.
Plans are to lengthen the runway from the current of 2,797 meters to 3,507 meters, in order to accommodate Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 aircraft.