SPEECH OF P.WILSON MP IN PARLIAMENT ON CONCERNS REGARDING SUDDEN WITHDRAWAL OF OPERATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AT CHENNAI AIRPORT

SPEECH OF P.WILSON MP IN PARLIAMENT ON CONCERNS REGARDING SUDDEN WITHDRAWAL OF OPERATIONS OF INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT AT CHENNAI AIRPORT

“Thank you, Chairman, sir. Chennai is one of the largest metropolitan economies in India and is known as India’s health capital. However, the airport in Chennai is in a very poor condition.

Chennai International Airport is among the top 50 airports in Asia and accommodates over 18 million passengers annually. It is a strategically important port city in India and is therefore the foremost commercial and industrial hub in South India. Due to its commercial nature and interest from international investors, Chennai is also a popular destination for international passengers.

However, there has been a drastic increase in the withdrawal of operations of international flights by international operators. This is due to a shortage of aerobridges for international flights, with only four available. As a result, many flights are handled at remote parking bays away from the terminal, which has significantly increased the time to board and alight passengers, load and unload baggage.

Furthermore, Chennai airport is not currently equipped to handle large planes with a capacity of over 400 passengers and double-decker planes because it does not have suitable aerobridges or parking bays. Also, there are no aerobridges that can be used to dock large planes.
Previously, British Airways operated a massive freighter to Chennai, requiring authorities to temporarily close a taxiway near the runway until the aircraft reached its designated parking bay. The aircraft’s broad wingspan led to the tips encroaching onto the parallel taxiway, necessitating restrictions on other planes accessing the taxiway while the freighter was on the runway. This resulted in significant inconvenience to other operators and the public.

This situation has forced international operators seeking to expand their flight operations in Chennai to opt for alternative airports such as Bangalore and Hyderabad over Chennai. As a consequence, flight frequencies to European destinations have decreased, despite the increasing demand from the public.

To make matters worse, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has replaced Chennai airports with Hyderabad and Bangalore airports as Points of Collateral (POC) for several countries. This makes it unlikely that Chennai will get flights to such countries in the near future.

Therefore, the current situation at Chennai International Airport needs immediate attention. This has often raised questions about the strategic importance of Chennai International Airport. I, therefore, request the Honorable Civil Aviation Minister to address this matter with utmost importance, call for a report on this issue and arrange for a feasibility study to add more aerobridges and change Points of Collateral for various international destinations to Chennai International Airport.”