Bomb Call on Azur Airways Charter Flight: The beginning of the end of Dabolim airport.
The Plan: Site Dabolim Airport as vital installation for National Security and close civil operations.
Two airports in Goa, never made sense; specially when a new greenfield project has commenced operation, built over a decade (if you count in the land acquisition process) at a dramatic cost of more than Rs.3,000 Crores.
The concession period of the Mopa Project is 40 Years, with another extension possible for 20 more years.
It's a very ordinary question that how GMR International would make money, if the Dabolim airport is kept functional?
In fact, ICAO itself raised the question on the viability of the Mopa International Airport (it's elementary to guess, on whose behalf and pretext. After all, it's a perfect alibi to shut down Dabolim Airport).
And hence, it's imperative that Dabolim airport (GOI) be closed for the concessionaire of Mopa International Airport.
This was already highlighted at this publication, on the day the 1st flight started landing at Mopa.
Now, how to close down an airport, which is synonymous for Goa?
Very easy, site "National Security", as Dabolim is a Naval installation. And also, dis-credit the airport in the minds of air-travellers (both foreign & domestic) so that they choose to descend at Mopa, instead of Dabolim.
The thing of great interest is that so far, not a single Charter flight from abroad has landed at Mopa.
The bomb call made on "Azur Airways" flight from Moscow, with 244 passengers yesterday night, Monday 9th January 2023; is the beginning of the end for Dabolim Airport.
Dabolim airport would be sited as a vital installation for National security; and due to security incidents like the present one, in Nation's interest; Dabolim would cease to operate civil flights and be handed over to Indian Navy back, fully.
Some very funny scenes with the entire "Bomb Threat" episode of yesterday.
1. On Twitter, hashtag #bombthreat for that matter is trending as of now a6 1036 hrs; 10th January.
2. The Moscow-Goa, "Azur Airways" flight was diverted to Jamanagar Airport, which is a more vital installation than the Dabolim airport, and belongs to Indian Air Force.
If the security of vital installations around airport was an issue for refusing the landing of the aircraft, then Jamnagar was a really bad choice, because of the massive petrochemical complex which it houses (though flights are restricted over a fast airspace over the complex).
3. If there would have been indeed a Bomb aboard, then the perpetrators would have ensured that aircraft was way near Dabolim airport, before making a call. In fact, they would not have made a call at all.
4. The flight originated from Moscow and hence there would be only Russians aboard on the flight. While there has been a war going on between Russia and Ukraine, it does not make sense for anyone to put a bomb aboard and kill 244 passengers.
5. Everyone rushed to Dabolim airport, even while the flight was diverted to Jamnagar. Police, Fire Brigade, ATS, Bomb Squad, CISF; as if they were all waiting for this to happen. What is the point of such a heavy presence while the flight is not even to land there, unless you want to create a sense of "panic" in the minds of present and future air-travellers, opting to land at Dabolim?
While this could be easily sited as a "Conspiracy Theory"; but unless and until it is conspired, there is no other way, that Dabolim airport could be closed down. The only way Dabolim Airport (GOI) could be closed down in the favour of the concessionaires of Mopa Airport (GOX) would be citing "National Security Issue".