Air travel from Sanganer posts 13% growth in ’09

16 Feb 2010 JAIPUR: The demand for air travel (domestic and international) has registered a growth of 13% in 2009, compared to an annual national growth of 8%. December has broken all the previous records and registered an all-time high of 1.43 lakh passengers amid swine flu scare.

The last six months (July-December) were very promising for Sanganer Airport which witnessed an average growth of 43%, compared to the corresponding period last year. According to AAI, Jaipur, total passengers flown in and out of Sanganer Airport were 14.19 lakh in 2009, compared with 12.53 lakh in 2008.
“Since operations started at new terminal building (July 2009), the passenger traffic witnessed a phenomenal rise. The travellers from both long and short haul (750 km and below 750 km distance from the city) had increased significantly,” said Anuj Agarwal.
Experts say that the gradual recovery from economic meltdown along with special offers by the airlines is responsible for the shining of aviation sector. Enthused by the rising numbers, the airport authority, Jaipur, has confirmed to have received proposals from some domestic and international airlines ahead of a Commonwealth Games. “Akash Ganga, a domestic airline, besides Best Air (Bangladesh) and Spice Jet are likely to start their international operations from this year,” added Agarwal.
The highest growth rate of 70% was recorded in September and that too in the middle of swine flu scare world over. This was followed by August which recorded a growth of 66%. The overseas passengers showed a phenomenal rise in October, November and December. In December alone, 19,500 foreigners travelled in and out of the Sanganer Airport.
“The sudden rise in foreign air travellers in last three months of previous year can be attributed to the tourist season, besides the surge in national and international corporate events that invites delegates from abroad,” said Tiahra Chishty, manager of an event management company.
Going by the figures, March was the worst-hit, as air passenger traffic registered a 24.7% decline. Domestic passengers in March 2009 was 85,045, as compared to 1.13 lakh in the same period in 2008. During summer vacation — May and June — the market showed good response as traffic jumped from -2.1% to 27%, respectively.
This sudden rise in passengers had boosted the airlines and hospitality industry that is still reaping the fruits of economic recovery. “In the last three months of the previous year (October, November and December), the airline capacity has remained around 70-80% which is profitable for the airlines,” said a premier airline official pleading anonymity.
The Northward trend has continued in January (2010) which had registered a growth of 20% and compared to the corresponding year. The existing domestic and international terminal is handling a movement of 35 flights a day, with no change since 2008.
“The very purpose of building a new terminal with a cost of Rs 100 crore is to handle the increasing passengers and flight traffic with the rate of 30% per year,” said an airport official.