Shirdi Airport: Final inspection by DGCA next week

A team from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will visit Shirdi next week for the final inspection of the new airport. According to sources in the aviation ministry, the airport is likely to receive an operation licence next week following which it can begin services from October.

Sources said the Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd (MADC), which is building the airport, wants the facility to be inaugurated on October 1 as it marks the beginning of the 100th anniversary of Sai Baba’s samadhi.

Suresh Kakani, vice-chairperson and managing director, MADC, said, “We are waiting DGCA’s final inspection of the airport. They have promised to issue licence in the next six days. The airport will be inaugurated in the first week of October.”

Kakani also confirmed that a trial run with Alliance Air will be conducted after the licence is issued. A joint inspection was conducted by the DGCA and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in July. This inspection had pointed out loopholes on ground and also highlighted the need for more manpower. The problems have been solved and a compliance report was submitted to the aviation regulator in August.

The airport will initially see 12 flights daily, four arrivals and departures each for Mumbai, and return flights from Hyderabad and Delhi. Zoom Air, Alliance Air and TruJet are expected to operate the flights.

Though the officials are trying to get the airport operated by the Prime Minister, the programme has not been confirmed. “If not the Prime Minister, it will be inaugurated by the state chief minister,” said Kakani.