India's first private airport to start operations from mid-April

The AAI has calibrated navigational system at the facility

The Changi-promoted airport at Andal in West Bengal is set to start commercial operations by next month. On Monday, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) calibrated the navigational system at the facility, the final step towards it being commissioned.

While Pinnacle Air will launch non-scheduled operations through small fixed-wing aircraft, connecting the airports of Andal and Cooch Behar in north Bengal with Kolkata four days a week, scheduled airlines GoAir and Indigo are in the final stages of negotiations with Bengal Aerotropolis Ltd (BAPL) to commence operations on the Delhi-Durgapur route. Apart from sales tax waiver on aviation turbine fuel, BAPL is offering concessions on parking-landing charges and 'seat underwriting', or buying seats to attract fliers.

"With this calibration process, we have now overcome all hurdles towards commissioning the airport. After AAI sends its report to the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation), it will take three-four weeks to get the final licence. We are looking at sometime around Bengali New Year(April 14) to start commercial operation," BAPL promoter and Managing Director Partha Ghosh told the media at the facility, named Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport.

"AAI used Beechcraft 350 aircraft, fitted with precision-oriented equipment on-board, to conduct the calibration. We will analyse the data. We hope DGCA will give the final licence within a month," said S Bhaduri, regional director of AAI.

High-tension power lines obstructing the airport were removed recently.

To attract airlines, BAPL is offering concession on landing and parking fee and subsidy on seats. "West Bengal is the first state in the country to waive 100 per cent sales tax on ATF at Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport, along with Cooch Behar and Bagdogra, for a three-year period. Negotiations are on with both Indigo and GoAir on these concessional agreements. Either one of them or both will start scheduled operations from the facility soon," Ghosh said. "Our aim was to get at least one non-scheduled airline and one scheduled airline to start operations."

BAPL, in which Changi Airports International owns 32.2 per cent stake, clarified it wouldn't wait for scheduled airlines to start commercial operation, as Pinnacle Air had already confirmed its operations. BAPL is also in negotiations with another non-scheduled airline, Air Costa, to connect Durgapur with Bangalore and Hyderabad.