Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) propose to introduce a three-minute complete airport closure before and after the arrival or departure of any VVIP flight at all airports across India. This would mean that airports would be closed for six minutes in case of a VVIP movement. No closure of airport is required for VVIP flights at present as per the instructions of the home ministry. VVIP flights are, however, to be given priority landing.
This is really ridiculous. The common man is tired of roads being blocked to allow VVIP's(and in India every second guy is a VVIP) motorcade (comprising of not less than 10 cars) to pass through.
Now, the much harried Air Traveller, who has to bear substandard ground facilities, delays in flights, delays in landing, poor baggage clearance, choked airport car parking to wait in the air to allow VVIP flights to land. It is not a question of 6 minutes. An Aircraft that is scheduled to land, if not allowed to do so, have to fly another 30 minutes to again get the approach to the runaway. Imagine the quantity of fuel being burnt. This is a national waste. But who cares?
