T3 too big, ministry wants golf carts for pilots and cabin crew

New Delhi: Terminal 3 (T3) threatens to expose one of the worst kept secrets of most well-heeled Indians — they simply do not have the habit of walking. The sprawling new terminal, where Jet and Kingfisher will shift their domestic operations on Sunday after Air India, is witnessing a huge demand for golf carts. And this spurt is not for passengers alone but for crew also which has to be physically fit to operate flights.
The aviation ministry has told airlines to keep three to four golf carts with them, especially for crew of flights operating from distant bays. Both cabin and cockpit crew have to maintain a general diary where customs note what items they are taking with them on international flights. This is checked at foreign airports before letting the declared stuff in. "Mistakes in this declaration are very common. But at T3 walking from a distant bay to customs/immigration counters to get a mistake rectified and then returning to the aircraft means an additional 45 minutes. So airlines have been asked to keep golf carts at their disposal," said a senior official.
In fact, Jet Airways which has asked domestic passengers to check in at least two hours before departure time has told its pilots and cabin crew to report 2 and 2.5 hours before each domestic and international flight, respectively. Earlier reporting time was 1 and 1.5 hours before flights.
An airline has requested Delhi International Airport Pvt Ltd (DIAL) to arrange for golf carts for pilots and cabin crew.
14/11/10 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India