City airport gears up for poll traffic

Movement Of Chartered Flights Expected To Shoot Up Once Star Campaigners Arrive
V Ayyappan TNN

Mar 16, 2009

Chennai: With political parties bound to hire star campaigners who will prefer to fly from one town to another as per their own schedule, Chennai airport is expected to see a jump in aircraft movement in April and May. The increased traffic is also expected to bring some money into the coffers of Airports Authority of India (AAI) by way of parking/landing charges. The polls may also bring some business for companies which operate air charter services. According to officials, the flights by nonscheduled aircraft — private helicopters, fixed-wing small planes, corporate jets and chartered aircraft — to and from the airport is likely to go up in the coming days. “On an average, the airport handles 20 non-scheduled aircraft movement in a day. This number is expected to go up to more than 50 per day during election time,” a senior AAI official said. Chennai airport is expected to receive non-scheduled flights from Bangalore, Hyderabad and even Mumbai. “Movement of such aircraft from Chennai to Madurai, Tiruchy, Tuticorin and Coimbatore is also likely to go up substantially in the next two months. The air routes to these smaller towns are going to be really busy,” the AAI official said. Aircraft movement had increased substantially during the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, said an air traffic controller who worked at Chennai airport then. “We expect the same this time too. But, we are not sure whether the slowdown will have an impact on the number of aircraft hired by political parties,” the air traffic controller said. Indra Aviation general manager (commercial & operation) W T S David said: “We are getting enquiries for chartering of our helicopter. The demand will be high for elections. The company will also procure two more aircraft, a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft by the end of the month to strengthen charter operations.” Indra Air charges Rs 75,000 per hour for a flight. The aeronautical fees charged by the AAI for helicopters comes to just over Rs 1,000. Unlike in Mumbai, flying in a hired helicopter or private aircraft is far more hassle-free at Chennai airport. “The airport has not clamped any restriction on general aviation, unlike in Mumbai where charter flying is restricted during peak hours,” the AAI official said. “Increase in non-scheduled aircraft operation is a trend we see during elections. But this season, we will have to wait and watch to know whether the trend will pick up because restrictions on election expenditure have been made tighter,” airport director K Natarajan said. According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation statistics, there are 247 helicopters and 39 ultra light aircraft registered in the country. Most of the private companies that own aircraft lend them to political parties to ferry senior politicians and movie stars. Deccan Aviation usually provides helicopters on charter, while Indra Air, a new Chennai-based company, has started its charter helicopter operations with an eye on elections. In addition, three Chennai-based companies own four aircraft, which might be leased out to parties during the election campaign.
JET, SET, GO
Chennai airport is expected to receive more non-scheduled flights from Bangalore and Hyderabad. Movement to Madurai, Tiruchy, Tuticorin and Coimbatore is also likely to go up Indra Air, a new company, charges Rs 75,000 per hour for a flight. The aeronautical fees charged by AAI for helicopters comes to just over Rs 1,000
Flying in a hired helicopter or private aircraft is far more hassle-free at Chennai airport. In Mumbai, charter flying is barred during peak hours Commercial airlines, which are hit by the slowdown, expect passenger traffic to small towns to go up substantially in the next two months
Hoping to make the most of the elections, Paramount Airways is planning to charter its aircraft after 9.30 pm, without disturbing scheduled services