Kolkata (CCU) | Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport

[AbhishekDatta]

wonderful

[arindamchak]

Thank you for this update on the construction of the New Integrated Terminal at NSBIA.

[BengaliTiger]

fatafati update dada!!!!... come 2012 and I can stop my friends mouth who tells nonsense about kolkata airport... waitin for the beauty to open...

[debarishidhar]

Originally Posted by soumalya747

After almost one year I’m back to my Hometown, Kolkata. I’m feeling so great to be at here again.
From Mumbai Airport till Kolkata Airport journey was beautiful. But Kolkata Airport Terminal is again disappointing.
Today I went to see the under constructed New Integrated KOLKATA TERMINAL as I got a special permission from my company, because Jet Airways is setting up a huge luxurious Lounge at New Terminal. I’m absolutely speechless after watching this MEGA GIANT airport Terminal. It is so BIG, so HUGE & so GRAND that you can’t imagine.
Here are the lists what I have seen at the terminal.
1. Outside Glass work is almost done. This glass brought from Japan which is UV ray protected, Earthquake resisted and of course sound proof.
2. The ceiling work has done. Poem of Tagore has written on the ceiling which is really beautiful.
3. They are using anti scratch and anti skidding tiles on the floor. But Jet Airways lounge will be cover by Carpet.
4. Workers are installing elevators and escalators.
5. Air conditioning machine will be like Hyderabad Airport. This are giants and ECO FRIENDLY.
6. Trees are planting across the Terminal which is making this building a GREEN BUILDING.
7. Retail zone is getting is last touch.
8. Cheeking counters and security counters are also way to finish.
9. Only the lighting work and electrical work is going bit slow which is disappointing.
10. Construction of Garden outside of the terminal has not started.
11. The flyover at the Terminal is finished.
12. Aero bridge is installing.
The engineers are expecting to open this terminal by 2012 between April-May. And most surprisingly almost 8000 workers are working on this project.
I’m sorry , I could not take any pic of this terminal coz photography is prohibited as of now. But I’m very much sure that after T3 at Delhi this terminal will be best in India.

Awesome update!!....This is really adrenaline pumping....Hope it gets operational by april....Cant wait to see the others airports cry!!!....
1 question-does jet have any plans to make kolkata their hub or maybe their gateway to east asia/australia??

[soumalya747]

Originally Posted by debarishidhar

Awesome update!!....This is really adrenaline pumping....Hope it gets operational by april....Cant wait to see the others airports cry!!!....
1 question-does jet have any plans to make kolkata their hub or maybe their gateway to east asia/australia??

Currently jet is planning to start middle east flight from Kolkata as I told earlier. Jet will introduce this flights once the new terminal will be operational. But East/South east, I have no idea. And Australia is out of question from Kolkata but Jet may start Singapore flight from CCU, but I'm not sure about that.

[sabya99]

@ Soumalya747:
First thing Jet airways should do after the installation of integrated terminal is to have flights to Brussels either nonstop or via Del/ Bom. Currently JFK/Brussels/CCU fare is $400 higher than Chennai fare and that is unacceptable. Till then AI 101/102 will remain my choice for JFK/CCU flights. Jet should also have flights to Tokyo and middle east from Kolkata.
A few more questions:
Do you know how many gates will be allotted to international flights? Also whats going on in between current structure of integrated terminal and the domestic terminal? I got the information that nearby central PWD workshop will be relocated to some other area. Will AAI use that space for further apron or integrated terminal expansion ?

[debarishidhar]

It is unacceptable to see kolkata 9th in terms of international passengers....where cochin is 4th just because of middle east traffic. I think kolkata should have more middle east passengers compared to cochin atleast...so we can have more connections to Middle east. also i guess the airport fees are much less compared to other PPP model airports....so kolkata can become a hub for middle east airlines.

[sidney_jec]

its all demand and supply. there is a huge exodus of blue collar workers from Kerala hence the number of pax.

[soumalya747]

Originally Posted by sabya99

@ Soumalya747:
First thing Jet airways should do after the installation of integrated terminal is to have flights to Brussels either nonstop or via Del/ Bom. Currently JFK/Brussels/CCU fare is $400 higher than Chennai fare and that is unacceptable. Till then AI 101/102 will remain my choice for JFK/CCU flights. Jet should also have flights to Tokyo and middle east from Kolkata.
A few more questions:
Do you know how many gates will be allotted to international flights? Also whats going on in between current structure of integrated terminal and the domestic terminal? I got the information that nearby central PWD workshop will be relocated to some other area. Will AAI use that space for further apron or integrated terminal expansion ?

From CCU to JFK you are paying $400 because you are changing your aircraft either at Delhi or Mumbai. But you are getting a direct flight from MAA for JFK. So the fare is not wrong.

I also asked engineer the same question about the Gate n check in counter. But he was unaware about that.

And the under constructed building between the Integrated terminal and domestic terminal will be an extension of new terminal. But this portion will open by early 2013. And this section will get 2 more aero bridge.

[coolmukund]

Originally Posted by debarishidhar

It is unacceptable to see kolkata 9th in terms of international passengers....where cochin is 4th just because of middle east traffic. I think kolkata should have more middle east passengers compared to cochin atleast...so we can have more connections to Middle east. also i guess the airport fees are much less compared to other PPP model airports....so kolkata can become a hub for middle east airlines.

Just because Kolkata is one of the biggest cities in India, doesn't mean that it must have more traffic than the cities smaller than it. Like it or not, it is a fact that the demand for middle eastern routes is the most from Kerala than any other state in the country. So what if it is middle east only. it is still international and there is nothing unfair about that.

CCU has strong connections to bordering countries like Bangladesh (at least 3-4 daily flights???), Nepal and Bhutan (both at least daily). If it is acceptable to consider them in international traffic, then Cochin can very well be proud of its strong middle east connection. Almost 50% of Kerala lives out of middle east.

I am sorry, i didn't mean to retaliate, but your statement "where cochin is 4th just because of middle east traffic. I think kolkata should have more middle east passengers compared to cochin atleast" was so childish and ignorant that it irked me.

[debarishidhar]

I'm sorry if u did'nt like any of my statements..
I said that 'kolkata being 9th is unacceptable' because it does have a huge potential in international passengers...but due to non availability of flights they are flying out of del/mumbai. Lots of non resident bengali in europe/N.america want direct connections but as of now nothing is being offered. Kolkata has the only major airport in eastern india which gives it the largest catchment area(Jharkand,eastern up,bihar,chatttisgarh,orissa,sikkim,entire north east and even, nepal,bangladesh and bhutan).On top of that air surcharge fees is one of the least in Kolkata which can help LCC's maintain their fare structure.
I compared cochin's middle east traffic to kolkatas because i felt it was strange that the number of people going to middle east from kerela is greater than the number of people travelling international from kolkata.
I have no problems with cochin being number 4 or neone being number 1....its just that i want my city to get what it rightly deserves.
Again i am sorry if you felt any of my statements were childish....CHILL @coolmukund

[abhipinak]

@soumalya747

Just reading the info you provided gives an amazing calmness that the work is actually progressing.
Hearing from what you have provided, i believe 75% of work is done so far.. we should be able to make it to April may i guess so....

[sabya99]

Originally Posted by soumalya747

From CCU to JFK you are paying $400 because you are changing your aircraft either at Delhi or Mumbai. But you are getting a direct flight from MAA for JFK. So the fare is not wrong.

I also asked engineer the same question about the Gate n check in counter. But he was unaware about that.

And the under constructed building between the Integrated terminal and domestic terminal will be an extension of new terminal. But this portion will open by early 2013. And this section will get 2 more aero bridge.

That is exactly the issue: why can we not have a direct flight to Brussels then this extra $400.00 will be eliminated. Naresh babu please think of us ( CCU pax. )!!
The fact that extended portion of integrated terminal will open on early 2013 with two extra aerobridges is very encouraging. In that case whole system will have 14 aerobridges! May be you could give us some inside information.

[sabya99]

Originally Posted by debarishidhar

It is unacceptable to see kolkata 9th in terms of international passengers....where cochin is 4th just because of middle east traffic. I think kolkata should have more middle east passengers compared to cochin atleast...so we can have more connections to Middle east. also i guess the airport fees are much less compared to other PPP model airports....so kolkata can become a hub for middle east airlines.

A large number of middle easter pax. from CCU usually take train to BOM ( partcularly blue color pax. )which makes it cheaper to fly than from CCU. But if there are good flights from CCU to various points in middle east there are no reason we would not increase our ranking. But Kerala is an unique case ; its economy is driven by population export to middle east and other points.If current trend of deindustrialization continues in Bengal such a immigrant based economy will sure to evolve and NSCBI airport will make its marks in population export. We have to wait and see.

[sabya99]

Originally Posted by coolmukund

Just because Kolkata is one of the biggest cities in India, doesn't mean that it must have more traffic than the cities smaller than it. Like it or not, it is a fact that the demand for middle eastern routes is the most from Kerala than any other state in the country. So what if it is middle east only. it is still international and there is nothing unfair about that.

CCU has strong connections to bordering countries like Bangladesh (at least 3-4 daily flights???), Nepal and Bhutan (both at least daily). If it is acceptable to consider them in international traffic, then Cochin can very well be proud of its strong middle east connection. Almost 50% of Kerala lives out of middle east.

I am sorry, i didn't mean to retaliate, but your statement "where cochin is 4th just because of middle east traffic. I think kolkata should have more middle east passengers compared to cochin atleast" was so childish and ignorant that it irked me.

Please dont forget that NSCBI airport was downgraded for political reason by India's federal govt. Foreign airlines were discouraged to land here and major policy making bodies and ministries of GOI actively discouraged expansion and modernization of the airport. Until recently Mr. Montec Singh ( chairman planning comm. )tried his best to delay modernization of this airport. This has been discussed at great lenght in this forum about two years back. Bong babus were asleep dreaming of Cuba/Vietnam, Bengal govt. did not utter a word about their airport. Only NRBs used to make noise in their small gatherings. Whatever we are getting so far due to the initiative of BB and kindness of Mr. Manmohan Singh. Thanks a lot Manmohanji!

[BengaliTiger]

Originally Posted by soumalya747

And the under constructed building between the Integrated terminal and domestic terminal will be an extension of new terminal. But this portion will open by early 2013. And this section will get 2 more aero bridge.

I got my answer, i had shown my doubt earlier that the area might not be added right now as the glass cladding on the side is visible, which was not necessary if they had planned to integrate it.

[coolmukund]

Originally Posted by debarishidhar

I'm sorry if u did'nt like any of my statements..
I said that 'kolkata being 9th is unacceptable' because it does have a huge potential in international passengers...but due to non availability of flights they are flying out of del/mumbai. Lots of non resident bengali in europe/N.america want direct connections but as of now nothing is being offered. Kolkata has the only major airport in eastern india which gives it the largest catchment area(Jharkand,eastern up,bihar,chatttisgarh,orissa,sikkim,entire north east and even, nepal,bangladesh and bhutan).On top of that air surcharge fees is one of the least in Kolkata which can help LCC's maintain their fare structure.
I compared cochin's middle east traffic to kolkatas because i felt it was strange that the number of people going to middle east from kerela is greater than the number of people travelling international from kolkata.
I have no problems with cochin being number 4 or neone being number 1....its just that i want my city to get what it rightly deserves.
Again i am sorry if you felt any of my statements were childish....CHILL @coolmukund

debarishidhar - Thanks for not taking my comments personally.

Originally Posted by sabya99

Please dont forget that NSCBI airport was downgraded for political reason by India's federal govt. Foreign airlines were discouraged to land here and major policy making bodies and ministries of GOI actively discouraged expansion and modernization of the airport. Until recently Mr. Montec Singh ( chairman planning comm. )tried his best to delay modernization of this airport. This has been discussed at great lenght in this forum about two years back. Bong babus were asleep dreaming of Cuba/Vietnam, Bengal govt. did not utter a word about their airport. Only NRBs used to make noise in their small gatherings. Whatever we are getting so far due to the initiative of BB and kindness of Mr. Manmohan Singh. Thanks a lot Manmohanji!

Sabya - It is indeed a pity that the airport of a city of the scale of Kolkata is being royally ignored by the government. Wonder if anything can be done. At least it is a consolation that CCU and MAA are finally getting much deserved modern terminals (consolation because it is going to be maintained by AAI). Let us hope things get better with the new terminal in place.

[debayanlahiri]

[debayanlahiri]

[debayanlahiri]