The shifting of domestic airline operations to Terminal 2 - which since its opening had largely been operating as international airport for the city - continues, with Air India next in line to be moved to it by the middle of this year.
The shifting of domestic airline operations to Terminal 2 - which since its opening had largely been operating as international airport for the city - continues, with Air India next in line to be moved to it by the middle of this year.
Vistara, the newly launched carrier, became the first airline to start operations from T2 in January. Before T2, all international airlines operated from Sahar while the domestic ones worked from the terminal near Vile Parle.
Officials say moving all airlines under one roof will eliminate the need for the transfer of passengers, and improve efficiency by integrating all operations at a single terminal. It also makes for better economics, they said.
At the end of last month, airport operator Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) issued a tender to start the bidding process to open up retail stores such as apparel, jewellery, accessories, beauty & cosmetics, Indian sweets & souvenirs, wine & liquor, convenience goods and so on for T2's domestic segment.
Insiders claim Air India is being moved first becasue while T2 was being erected, a lot of spaces and other facilities belonging to the airline were affected. Air India, thus, bargained to be shifted first.
"Work is in full swing to set up the entire airport with all the amenities before shifting Air India," said an MIAL official. Domestic airlines - Indigo, Spicejet, Jet Airways and GoAir - will be similarly rehabilitated in phases. "The starting of Vistara's operations from T2 has been a launch pad for us and we have been successful on providing smooth operations and experience to the passengers," added the official. A Vistara spokesperson said passenger feedback has been good as they delight in T2's aesthetics and comfort.
At present, domestic operations at Terminal 1A - which has five aerobridges - are mainly allocated to Go Air and Air India. Similarly, Terminal 1B, which stands next to it is allotted for operations of Jet Airways, Indigo and SpiceJet. And Terminal 1C, which was opened in April 2010, serves as the only boarding facility for all four airlines. It has six passenger boarding bridges and allows connectivity between 1A and 1B.
Senior airport officials remained non-committal about what will come up in place of the these domestic terminals after their operations have been moved to T2. The original plans have changed multiple times. Sources reveal that MIAL is most likely to exploit the area for developing real estate. It is already in the process of developing a 'Skycity' around the airport similar to the one in Bangkok, which will have 24x7 leisure and work zones with hotels, malls, convention centers, restaurants and so forth.
The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has been designated as the special planning authority for this zone. Its strategic location around the airport will give SkyCity, once it comes up, excellent road connectivity via the Western Express Highway, Andheri-Ghatkopar-Kurla Link Road and Sahar Road, along with key areas around the airport including Andheri, Bandra, Kurla, Powai, SEEPZ and Santacruz. The zone will also enjoy Metro rail connectivity in close proximity.
As such, it will enjoy a huge audience, that is, passengers, visitors, and others.
Meanwhile, the iconic T2, which took more than four years to be built, will more fully come into its own as an integrated passenger terminal.
Already, its vertical passenger terminals integrate architecture, infrastructure and operations, while infusing elements of Indian heritage and cultural.
When fully done, it will be able to handle 40 million passengers annually. The four-level terminal, spread across an area of more than 4,39,000 sq m, will include new taxiways and apron areas for aircraft parking. Counting the retail space and lounges on the airport premises, the area would cover around 7,00,000 sq ft. More than 5,000 cars would be accommodated in its parking lots.
T2 currently has 188 check-in counters, 60 departure immigration counters and 76 arrival immigration counters. There are 124 security check positions, 10 baggage carousels, 25 fixed link bridges, 52 passenger boarding bridges, 44 travelators, 49 escalators, 73 elevators and a six-lane elevated expressway leading to the terminal. With all these amenities, it has set new international standards in terms of planning, infrastructure, technology, service and functionality.
Part of it opened up for international operations in February 2014, and the rest is likely to be completed by the end of this year.
According to an audit report by Mumbai airport, the airport plays an important role in driving the tourism industry in Maharashtra. It receives around 19.7 percent of foreign tourist arrivals in India as compared to Delhi airport's 35.8 percent in 2011. Around 5.12 million foreign tourists visited Maharashtra in 2012, which is around 25 percent of the total foreigners who visited India. Since most tourists arrive by air, the contribution of Mumbai airport to the tourism sector is substantial.
According to experts, synergizing the international and intranational operations seems significant in view of the several space constraints within which CSIA, built on 1,400 acres of land, operates. Compared to the air[orts of Delhi and Kolkata, Mumbai's is minuscule in terms of area.
+++Box:
Hyderabad airport tops the list with 5,500 acres of land followed by Kolkata and Delhi airport 5,400 and 5,000 acres of land, respectively. While Hyderabad and Delhi airports are being developed through public-private partnership, Kolkata airport is basically a public owned airport and is also being planned to developed on PPP model.
Box
Terminal capacity per annum Area (sq.m)
T-2 40 million 4,39,203
Old T-2* (now closed) 8.9 million 1,05,165
T1A 7.1 million 28,960
T1B 14.2 million 51,739
T1C Only boarding bridges 27,610
+++Box:
The present domestic passenger terminals
Terminal 1A – This terminal is mainly allocated to Go Air and Air India and has five aerobridges.
Terminal 1B – Jet Airways, Indigo and SpiceJet are exclusively allocated to this terminal.
Terminal 1C – This terminal was opened in April 2010 and serves as the only boarding facility for all four airlines. It has six passenger boarding bridges and allows connectivity between Terminal 1A and Terminal 1B.
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