DGCA renews Juhu airport licence

The airport's licence had expired in February; renewed one issued with retrospective effect

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA)  has renewed the licence of Juhu airport.

The airport’s licence lapsed in February but the civil aviation regulator allowed operations to continue even as the renewal process was underway.

Juhu airport in Mumbai  is the busiest heliport in the country and handles about  100 movements daily, many of them to off shore oil rigs. The airport is run by  the Airports Authority of India (AAI). 

The licence was renewed a few days ago and with retrospective effect from February, a DGCA official said.

According to norms,  airports cannot have commercial flight operations without a valid aerodrome licence. However  DGCA can give a dispensation to ensure operations remain normal.

A media report on Sunday said Juhu airport had been operating without a valid licence for last four months and questioned lax attitude of both AAI and DGCA in the process.

The licence of Juhu airport was valid till February and renewal process began in January. But the regulator expressed unhappiness with Airport Authority of India officials for submitting  wrong documents and not taking action on maintenance issues at airport on time.