India unveils first five low-cost airport locations
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India’s aviation authorities have confirmed plans to develop five low-cost airports.
The state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) revealed this week that new hubs will be developed in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan, with two in Karnataka.
“AAI has developed a model for these no-frills airports, which will provide essential services needed to operationalise the airports, without in any way compromising safety and security,” India’s civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati was quoted saying by the Economic Times.
“This will result in low cost of operation and make it viable for the airlines with smaller aircraft to run their services,” he added.
Specifically, the new airports will be located in the district of Lohit, in the mountainous state of Arunachal Pradesh, Jharsuguda in the northwest part of Odisha state, Krishna Nagar in Rajasthan, and the two Karnataka cities of Hubli and Belgaum.
Development of the new airports is expected to be completed quickly, with services potentially commencing within the current financial year.
A budget of approximately INR500 million (US$8.2m) has been set aside for each project, and the hubs are expected to have only basic facilities, in an effort to reduce operating costs and attract more airlines.
Earlier this year India drew up a plan to set up around 200 low-cost airports across the country, mainly in second and third tier cities.
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