GOA- Qatar Airways (QR) has shifted its flight operations from Goa’s old Dabolim Airport (GOI) located in South to newly launched Mopa Airport (GOX) in North Goa from June 20, 2024.
Well, this move has made the Indian National Congress party’s elected MP Captain Viriato Fernandes from South Goa unhappy, well for obvious reasons.
Qatar Airways Goa Airport Operations
The Doha-based carrier will serve the route with same aircraft, i.e. with Airbus A320 and Boeing 787 aircraft.
Here’s the flight schedule for Doha-Goa flight:
- Doha (DOH) to Goa (GOX) – QR522 Departure 19:40, Arrival 01:55
- Goa (GOX) to Doha (DOH) – QR523 Departure 03:40, Arrival 05:00
The new airport is well established and has state-of-the-art hotels and accommodation facilities. Also, the public transportation is improving and getting better every day.
It’s been 15 years since Qatar Airways has operated flights between Qatar and Goa. In total, the airline serves 13 destinations in country, which includes Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Calicut, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Nagpur, and Thiruvananthapuram.
Why Congress MP Disappointed?
Congress MP showed his disappointment as old airport was operated by government owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) and new is operated by GMR.
He also accused the Indian govt of forcing airlines to move its operations to new airport. However, the facts and actual reasons for this may not be the political but economical. The new airport has better facilities, more space and earlier mover advantage.
Congress MP also said that he will raise this issue in parliament. He stated,
It is disheartening that Qatar Airways decided to shift operations just two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Qatar. The BJP government is prioritizing the interests of crony capitalists over the well-being of local Goans. However, I will not let Goans down and will address this issue in Parliament on behalf of all Goans.”
The President of Goan Welfare Association, Simon D’Silva stated that the new airport is situated in the extreme north part of the Goa, while the old Dabolim airport is more of the central. He assumes that the airline’s shifting of operations from old to new is likely due to government thinking to shut down the old airport.
Well, the time will tell whether Goa will work on dual airport model or on single one. But one thing is clear, the new Mopa airport will create some inconvenience for passengers or travelers wanting to go to southern part. They will need to take long drive to reach their desired destinations.
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