India’s first General Aviation Terminal inaugurated

India’s first general GAT, which promises faster turnaround of business jets and chartered flights, shielding them from the clutter of general passenger terminals where they now compete for taxiing slots with commercial flights — was inaugurated by union civil aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport/VIDP/DEL last Thursday.

The new terminal, which had been ready for use since July this year and was awaiting a final security nod from the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), will start operations from Sunday afternoon, officials familiar with the matter said.

Delhi airport operator Delhi International Airport Ltd said the terminal can handle more than 50 passengers every hour and can cater to 150 private jet movements every day. “The terminal can handle Code C type aircraft, which are 50-seater charter aircraft and the biggest in their category,” the airport operator said.