GoAir flights to operate from IGIA's T2 from October 29

NEW DELHI: Come October 29 and GoAir will operate all its flights in and out of Delhi from IGI Airport's terminal 2. The low cost carrier (LCC), which has only domestic flights, will move its entire Delhi operations of 44 daily arrivals and as many daily departures from T1 to T2 from 12.01 am that day.

Three LCCs — IndiGo, SpiceJet and GoAir — operate their domestic flights from the bursting at seams T1. Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) had asked them to move their flights to and from Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata to T2 from October 29. Being a relatively small carrier with 28 aircraft and no domestic flights, GoAir told DIAL it will not split operations but shift fully to T2. DIAL has asked IndiGo to decide on shifting by Sunday and SpiceJet has said it will do so only if all the three LCCs move.

"In order to facilitate the growth of IGI Airport, GoAir agreed with DIAL to move its entire operations from T1 to T2 from October 29 until the completion of the expansion of T1. This is a temporary move to ease the pressure of fast growing traffic at Terminal 1, so that the expansion works can be carried out at T1 effectively," a DIAL statement said.

T1 expansion — including terminal building and aircraft parking stands — will take four years and see its annual passenger handling capacity double from current 2 crore by introducing 22 aerobridges and other infrastructure. Once T1 expansion is completed, T2 will be demolished to make way for a brand new T4.

DIAL plans to begin "operational readiness and airport transfer" work at T2 from October 17 to have a smooth transition 12 days later. Built for 1982 Asiad Games and in use till T3 was operationalized for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, T2 will buzz with activity after almost seven years. Since IndiGo and SpiceJet are yet to give their nod like GoAir, the first GoAir flight taking off from here will be to Lucknow (G8 207) at 5.25 am and the first Go arrival will be from Hyderabad (G8 421) at 7.40 am on October 29.

DIAL CEO I P Rao said: "In view of the robust growth in passenger traffic and upcoming airport expansion works, DIAL has revamped and is recommissioning T2 from October 29. This will enable us to start the expansion works at T1 and carry it on seamlessly."