India Aviation expo: Near empty Begumpet airport awaits people

Hyderabad: If you have booked tickets for India Aviation expo to see different varities of aircraft, you are definitely going to hugely disappointed as an almost empty Begumpet airport is waiting for general public. The show opens for public on Saturday and Sunday — March 19 and 20.

Almost all aircraft have already left the city. Big aircraft from Qatar, Emrites and Etihad have left, leaving just Air India’s Dreamliner to greet people on Saturday. Out of 29 small aircraft, only 12 are still at the Begumpet airport. Though there are some 200 stalls spread across three exhibition halls, many foreign companies have shut their shops. People will also not find officials of Air Asia, which runs an Indian airline in JV with Tata, at the exhibition.

Given the thinner presence of aircraft tomorrow, organisers have tried to prepare people for the shock by saying that they should be disappoint if they don’t see any aircraft that they were wishing to see. “They should not get disappointed if some of the aircraft are not available as exhibitors may change their plans, take out the aircraft as this is a business event. The primary objective of it is ‘business’ in nature, to attract investments in the aerospace sectors,” a statement issued by Ficci said. The first three days of the five-day aviation show are dedicated to business-to-business dealings and policy discussion, while the show is open to public during last two days.

Organisers, however, claim that people can watch the stunning acrobatics of Mark Jefferies and his team. The flying displays will be held twice a day for 15 to 20 minutes — 11.35 am and 3 pm. Entry tickets cab be bought on www.bookmyshow. com or Axis Bank or at the venue. Parking arrangements have been made at Begumpet airport cargo area.