Bagdogra flights increase, not fliers

TT, Siliguri, March 1: The number of flights operating from Bagdogra airport went up in the first nine months of the current fiscal compared to the same period in the last financial year but there has been no growth in passenger traffic. 

Today, the Airports Authority of India shared some data regarding aircraft movement and number of passengers between April 2015 and December 2015 compared to the records of the past three fiscals from 2012-13.
"The number of flights has recorded a growth of 34.9 per cent in these nine months compared to the last fiscal. One of the primary reasons, we believe, is that Bagdogra is the cheapest airport across the country in terms of Aviation Turbine Fuel costs as the state government has completely waived the oil surcharge here," Rakesh Sahay, the airport director of Bagdogra, said.
In the 2013-14 fiscal, the number of flights that operated from Bagdogra was 8,332, an increase of 12.9 per cent compared to the previous year. In 2014-15, the number of flights was 10,125, which meant a growth of 21.5 per cent. In the 2015-2016 (from April 2015 to December 2015) the number of flights was 7974, an increase of 34.9 per cent.
With regards to passenger traffic, in 2013-14 fiscal the number of passengers was 7,21365, an increase of 8 per cent compared to the previous year. In 2014-15, the figure was 10,35887 and 43.6 per cent, respectively. In the 2015-2016 (April 2015 to December 2015), the number of passengers was 807242, a decrease of 1 per cent.
"There has been a steep rise in the number of passengers in the last fiscal, when, for the first time, the total number crossed the 10 lakh mark. Passenger movement had recorded a rise of 43.9 per cent in the last fiscal compared to 2013-2014. These two reasons made airline companies introduce flights from Bagdogra or increase the number," he said.
But in the first nine months of the current fiscal, there has been a decline of one per cent in passenger traffic.
"The decline might appear to be meagre but considering last year's growth, it is indeed a concern for us. If we take into account the rise of 43.9 per cent in passenger traffic and expect it to continue, at least 10 lakh passengers should have travelled in these nine months. Instead, only eight lakh have," an AAI official said.
If the percentage of growth in the last fiscal is considered, the total number of passengers in Bagdogra should increase to 15 lakh by the end of this fiscal, which, he said, is unlikely to happen.
"Even if there is a 20 per cent rise, the total number of passengers should be 12.50 lakh at the end of this fiscal," he said.
Asked about the probable reasons, Sahay said: "First of all, there had been cancellation of flights due to inclement weather and absence of the Instrument Landing System at the airport (which helps flights land and take off during adverse weather conditions) this winter for three-four days which brought down passenger movement for around 10 days."
He added: "Also, absence of ILS is discouraging airline companies from introducing early morning and late evening flights. Most flights operate from Bagdogra from 12noon to 5pm. Many passengers opt for night trains and other means of transport. There were flights that landed or took off with vacant seats during the lean months when tourists are less."
According to him, the total number of passengers will cross the one million mark in the current fiscal like last year, as the date is compiled after this month. "But we have to mull over the fact that there hasn't been the desired growth in passenger traffic in this fiscal compared to 2014-15. It is evident that we desperately need the ILS at the airport to enable airline companies to introduce flights early in the morning and in late evening," Sahay said.