Kolkata airport’s longest taxiway reopens after a year, to ease ground traffic, BA

Over half of taxi track A, the longest taxiway at Kolkata airport that was out of service due to repairs, was reopened on Friday along with taxiway C, which was also shut for upgrade. The reopening of the two taxi tracks will significantly reduce ground bottlenecks at Kolkata airport and increase operational capacity. Sources said even runway occupancy time of aircraft will reduce as they use taxiway C to exit and roll onto taxiway A.

While taxiway A, the closest one to the terminal, is 2,940 m in length, 1,644 m was closed for upgrade. “The taxiways are among the oldest at Kolkata airport and were being strengthened as part of the operational and apron area upgrade,” said an airport official.

Airlines officials said the development would help ease ground traffic movement, particularly during busy hours. “Earlier, there were fewer busy hours at Kolkata airport. But with flights now distributed all through the day, there are six to seven peak hours. If taxiway A and the parallel taxitrack F are both in operation, it is a great help,” said an official.

A pilot also pointed out that the availability of the entire taxiway A allows flights to switch the direction of operations between north and south when weather changes.

An airport official said the reopening of taxiway A will also be crucial for uninterrupted flight operation during the Airport-New Barrackpore metro work. “Since the boundary wall of the airport will have to be temporarily shifted inside the airport compound during metro construction, large aircraft used by international airlines will be unable to use taxiway N and P that allows departing aircraft to move straight to the northern end of the primary runway. These aircraft will then be able to use taxiway A,” the official said.