MUMBAI: Mumbai's constrained airport is proving to be a nightmare for international airlines using or planning to deploy the world's largest commercial airliner, Airbus 380, to the city.
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) has just one parking bay and Terminal 2 has a solo twin-level aerobridge for the super jumbo with Singapore Airlines (SIA) operating at midnight and Emirates less than a couple of hours later. While every night Emirates keeps its fingers crossed that SIA A380 leaves in time to avoid being left on a taxiway, the airport is now facing another issue.
Emirates wants to retain its summer slot of 2am in winter too. German carrier, Lufthansa, has sought government nod to operate the A380 to Delhi and Mumbai from this winter and wanted the 2am slot at Mumbai airport too.
But with just one parking bay and twin-level boarding gate for this aircraft, Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd plans to ask Lufthansa to operate either at 10pm or 4am as airport operators need a gap of two hours between two successive A380 movements. The sprawling Delhi airport, on the other hand, has 12 A-380 parking stands, of which six are twin gates; three are triple gates and three remote stands.
"Lufthansa is yet to get the nod for flying this aircraft to India, while Emirates is already flying the aircraft to Mumbai and wanted to retain the time slot which CSIA agreed to. Lufthansa's slot can be debated once they get the approval," said a source.
Emirates confirmed that it will retain its slot in winter. "Emirates can confirm that is has received approval from MIAL to continue operating its A380 services between Dubai and Mumbai for the winter 2014 timetable," the airline said. The airline's worry is different—if SIA A380's departure from Mumbai gets delayed then Emirates A380 will have no parking bay.
Lufthansa said it is waiting for approval for flying A380. "India is an important market for Lufthansa...in view of the growing demand we plan to introduce the A380 in Mumbai and Delhi subject to government approval. We have applied for permission and are hopeful of getting government approvals soon," the airline said in a statement.
Sources say Lufthansa wants the 2am slot so that its flight can reach Frankfurt in time for passengers to catch connecting flights.
Slot worries apart, a senior aviation ministry official said that Lufthansa is likely to get the government nod for the big bird. "The flying rights of Germany are not being enhanced as of now and they will have to fly within the existing entitlements. Only the agreement with Germany needs a minor tweaking which will be done soon to allow its airlines to fly the A380," said an official.
UPA-II gave Dubai additional flying rights in its last days that allowed Emirates to fly A380 to Mumbai. In SIA's case, the bilateral agreement between India and Singapore had to be changed to allow the super jumbo.
Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA) has just one parking bay and Terminal 2 has a solo twin-level aerobridge for the super jumbo with Singapore Airlines (SIA) operating at midnight and Emirates less than a couple of hours later. While every night Emirates keeps its fingers crossed that SIA A380 leaves in time to avoid being left on a taxiway, the airport is now facing another issue.
Emirates wants to retain its summer slot of 2am in winter too. German carrier, Lufthansa, has sought government nod to operate the A380 to Delhi and Mumbai from this winter and wanted the 2am slot at Mumbai airport too.
But with just one parking bay and twin-level boarding gate for this aircraft, Mumbai International Airport Pvt Ltd plans to ask Lufthansa to operate either at 10pm or 4am as airport operators need a gap of two hours between two successive A380 movements. The sprawling Delhi airport, on the other hand, has 12 A-380 parking stands, of which six are twin gates; three are triple gates and three remote stands.
"Lufthansa is yet to get the nod for flying this aircraft to India, while Emirates is already flying the aircraft to Mumbai and wanted to retain the time slot which CSIA agreed to. Lufthansa's slot can be debated once they get the approval," said a source.
Emirates confirmed that it will retain its slot in winter. "Emirates can confirm that is has received approval from MIAL to continue operating its A380 services between Dubai and Mumbai for the winter 2014 timetable," the airline said. The airline's worry is different—if SIA A380's departure from Mumbai gets delayed then Emirates A380 will have no parking bay.
Lufthansa said it is waiting for approval for flying A380. "India is an important market for Lufthansa...in view of the growing demand we plan to introduce the A380 in Mumbai and Delhi subject to government approval. We have applied for permission and are hopeful of getting government approvals soon," the airline said in a statement.
Sources say Lufthansa wants the 2am slot so that its flight can reach Frankfurt in time for passengers to catch connecting flights.
Slot worries apart, a senior aviation ministry official said that Lufthansa is likely to get the government nod for the big bird. "The flying rights of Germany are not being enhanced as of now and they will have to fly within the existing entitlements. Only the agreement with Germany needs a minor tweaking which will be done soon to allow its airlines to fly the A380," said an official.
UPA-II gave Dubai additional flying rights in its last days that allowed Emirates to fly A380 to Mumbai. In SIA's case, the bilateral agreement between India and Singapore had to be changed to allow the super jumbo.
