AAI Launches Incentive Scheme To Boost International Flights

09 Jun 2025 CW Team

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved a new incentive scheme to promote international flight operations from 13 airports across the country, including Kushinagar International Airport in Uttar Pradesh, officials announced on Wednesday.

Under the scheme, airlines launching new international routes will receive exemptions on landing, parking, and other related charges. This initiative is expected to encourage more international flights, particularly at Kushinagar Airport, where domestic flights have been suspended for the past 18 months.

Pranesh Kumar Rai, Director-in-Charge of Kushinagar Airport, confirmed the scheme’s inclusion of the airport, stating that waiving charges like landing and parking fees will make Kushinagar a more attractive destination for airlines. He also highlighted recent requests from multiple airlines seeking such incentives, signalling increased interest in operations from the region.

Kushinagar Airport boasts the longest runway among all international airports in Uttar Pradesh and has completed full installation of the DVOR navigation system in the last 18 months. Additionally, about 80 per cent of work on the Instrument Landing System (ILS) has been finished, further enhancing the airport’s operational capabilities.

The 13 airports benefiting from this AAI incentive scheme include Kushinagar, Patna, Srinagar, Port Blair, Agartala, Imphal, Vadodara, Bhopal, Rajkot, Gaya, Aurangabad, Tirupati, and Ayodhya. This initiative aims to strengthen international connectivity and promote regional economic growth.

Infrastructure Transport

17 Sep 2025

Three Firms Shortlisted for Rs 332 Million Delhi Metro Contract

Three firms have qualified for the electrification contract D2E-12 of Delhi Metro Phase 4’s Line 10 and Line 5 extension. Line 10 spans 23.622 km, connecting Aerocity and Tughlakabad with 15 stations, while the Line 5 extension covers 12.58 km between Inderlok and Indraprastha with 10 stations.In June 2025, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) invited bids for this contract. The technical bids were opened on 4 August 2025, with four firms submitting proposals. During the evaluation, one firm’s bid was rejected.The three qualified firms are:M/s A.K. Infra ProjectsM/s Kalpataru Projects I..

L&T Seeks to Sell Hyderabad Metro Stake Amid Financial Losses

Infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro Limited (L&T) has expressed its intention to sell its stake, exceeding 90 per cent, in the L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail project to either the state or central government through a new Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), citing operational and accumulated losses.In a letter addressed to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), L&T Metro Rail stated that despite repeated follow-ups, the Telangana government has not provided the expected financial assistance. The delay is worsening the financial distress of the concessionaire, making the situa..

Ixigo Launches Delhi Metro Ticketing on Its Trains App

Online travel aggregator (OTA) ixigo has partnered with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to launch Delhi Metro ticketing on the ixigo Trains app on 12 September.As part of the collaboration, ixigo Trains now offers QR-based metro tickets with in-app payments. Users can plan and book end-to-end journeys across trains, buses, flights, hotels and now metro services on a single platform.The DMRC operates nearly 400 km of network across more than a dozen lines, making it India’s largest and busiest metro system. In August 2025, it recorded i..