Canada – Airport Critical Infrastructure Program

May 11, 2021 | International

Backgrounder

The Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP) is a new contribution funding program to help Canada’s larger airports make critical investments in safety, security or connectivity to mass transit.

The Airport Critical Infrastructure Program (ACIP) is a new contribution funding program to help Canada’s larger airports make critical investments in safety, security or connectivity to mass transit.

With $489.6 million available over five years, the Program will help eligible airports mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to ensure that Canada’s air transportation system provides Canadians with choice, connectivity and affordable air travel.

Canada’s world-leading network of airports has been put under substantial financial strain as a result of the dramatic decline in passenger travel resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Infrastructure projects, including those at airports, are generally long horizon investments with years of planning beforehand and many years of benefits thereafter.

Funding may be provided to owners and/or operators of the following types of airports:

National Airport System (NAS) airports with annual passenger volumes of over 525,000 passengers (as of December 2019)

Non-NAS Airports with annual passenger volumes of over 525,000 passengers (as of December 2019)

Eligible projects include:

Safety-related projects (e.g., runway and lighting rehabilitation)

Infrastructure projects for the purposes of operational efficiency and/or to enhance security at airports

Improvements to mass transit connections at airports

More information on ACIP, including program eligibility requirements and funding application process, can be found here: https://tc.canada.ca/en/programs/airport-critical-infrastructure-program

Kurnool Airport inaugurated

Mar 25, 2021 | Business

Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, MoS, I/C, Civil Aviation virtually joined Shri Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy, Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh at the  inauguration of the Kurnool Airport, Orvakal, Andhra Pradesh today.  Andhra Pradesh CM attended the inauguration at Kurnool airport along with senior officials and other important stakeholders. Senior officials of the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) & Airport Authority of India (AAI) also attended the event virtually. Kurnool is the 6th airport in Andhra Pradesh to become functional after Kadapa, Visakhapatnam, Tirupati, Rajahmundry & Vijayawada.

The flight operations at Kurnool airport will commence on 28th March 2021 under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN). Direct flight operations to Bangalore, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai will bring the region closer to the major hubs in the South India. These routes were approved by the MoCA under the UDAN 4 bid process last year. The Government of India and the Government of Andhra Pradesh will jointly share the VGF towards the operations on an 80:20 basis. Till date, 56 unserved and underserved airports (including 5 heliports+ 2 water aerodrome) with 325 routes have been operationalised under UDAN across the length and breadth of India.

Kurnool is the judicial capital of Andhra Pradesh and a historical hub of the country. The place is famous for its mighty caves and temples. The city of Kurnool lies on the banks of the Tungabhadra River and, Nallamalas mountain hill range runs parallel. Moreover, Famous tourist spots include Nallamala Forest, Ahobilam, Belum Caves, Mahanandi, Mantralayam, Orvakal, Sangameshwaram, Kethavaram and Kalva Bugga.  This air connectivity will fulfill the aspirations of the people of Kurnool and provide impetus to the local economy and tourism.