the goan I network
VASCO
Travel and Tourism Association of Goa ( TTAG) has said that the runway of Dabolim international Airport may be closed on Saturday morning session from October on account of runway maintenance.
TTAG President Savio Messias on Saturday informed reporters that the Navy had previously wanted to close the runway on Saturday and Sunday but after the tourism industry requested, the Navy has agreed to close it only on Saturday from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm.
There are some issues regarding the runway at Dabolim airport. The airport authorities want to close the runaway in October and extend the non-flying hours. The airport runaway requires maintenance.
The industry objected and pleaded with the navy to carry out maintenance and close the runway only on Saturday. However, the navy has said if the closure is for one day, it would require longer hours.
Messias said TTAG again requested the navy not to take more hours and reconsider its request. Finally, the navy sent us a message that the runaway will be closed on Saturdays from 7.30 am to 12.30 pm instead of from 7.30 am to 11.30 am, he informed.
Some flights are getting affected and one such flight is the British, Thomson Charter flight that has been coming for many years and this slot has been a historical slot for them.
If that slot is changed, they may have to pull out one of their flights because for them it is very difficult to adjust since they have been accommodated in that slot for many years and it’s kind of set.
TTAG said it has requested the Airports Authority of India to somehow adjust and make available the afternoon slot because normally these slots are not given to the international flights but only to domestic ones.
“I am sure AAI could work out a solution and it has been very cooperative. The navy is also cooperative, but I am afraid that this runway maintenance timing is
increasing every year. There has to be a solution to this,” Messias said.
The parallel runaway which is a taxiway was supposed to be inaugurated on August 15 but it is due. “I hope it is ready before the season commences. This will only reduce the turnaround time of the flights,”said Messias.
