Thiruvananthapuram Airport to Get Parallel Taxi Track

Vacationers with flights to India that are scheduled to land up at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport will have to face less waiting time as AAI gives a green signal for setting up a parallel taxi track at the airport.

International travellers with flights to India, landing up in Thiruvananthapuram International Airport are likely to face less waiting time for their flight decent as the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has given an in-principle approval for establishing a parallel taxi track (PTT) at the airport.

This is not only going to save time, save fuel for the airline and reduce air traffic congestion, but it will also assist the air traffic control to curtail down the risk that emanates due to clustering of traffic by airlines.

A report in India’s major English daily, Times of India, informs that there has been a 20% rise in air traffic over the past few years at the Trivandrum airport. Out of 50 arrivals and departures daily, 15 flights land and take-off between 7am and 11am.

Currently, the ATC keeps seven minute spacing between the flights landing up at the airport.

An official from ATC summarised the current situation at the airport. He said: “Some aircraft have to go all the way to Nagarcoil, located 40 nautical miles away, as inflexible airline timings have created air traffic bunching between 7am and 11am. Once the aircraft lands, the ATC has no time control over it. It is in the hands of the pilot. Most airlines follow the recommended maximum taxi speed of 30 knots. Emirates operate Boeing 777s and often the first to vacate to runway, but for that they apply maximum braking on landing, which tends to burn the tyres. With the new PTT, the runway occupancy time will drastically reduce to three minutes.”

“The PTT will run alongside 60% of the total 3,398 meter runway as land is yet to be acquired on either ends of runway 32 and runway 14. Cost estimation for the project will be made in six months and the PTT could take anywhere between 16 to 18 months to complete,” an airport authority official was quoted in the news report.

South India’s top holiday destination, Thiruvananthapuram, is frequented by many leisure travel buffs and remains a big reason for many to look for tickets on flights to India.