VIJAYAWADA: Wide-body Airbus is likely to land at Gannavaram airport within two months as the authorities are determined to complete installation of landing equipment for big aircraft at the earliest.

Speaking to newsmen on Thursday, airport new director C Pattabhi who assumed charge recently, said the airport authorities, in coordination with the revenue department, were planning to acquire land for the runway expansion.

Pattabhi who worked in Visakhapatnam airport earlier, said big aircraft could be operated from Gannavaram airport from the ensuing winter schedule. As part of expansion of the runway, some trees on the airport premises need to be removed.

The revenue authorities have already identified the trees which come in the flight path. Air India and SpiceJet are ready to operate Airbus services from Gannavaram airport once the expansion of runway is completed.

In all, 465 acres of land is necessary for expansion of the runway up to 10,000 feet. The Krishna district administration is likely to issue a notification for land acquisition soon. If the land is allotted for development of the airport, the construction of terminal building will be taken up. Instrument landing facility at the airport will be provided within two months to facilitate night landing of aircraft, he said.

At present, Kingfisher Airlines is operating flight services from Bangalore-Vij a y awa d a -Bang a l o r e , Hyderabad-Vijayawada- Hyderabad and Vijayawada- Chennai. Vijayawada-Bangalore flight takes off from Gannavaram at 12:35 hours every day and at 13:30 hours on Tuesday. Hyderabad flight is scheduled to leave the airport at 14:35 hours everyday. Jet Airways flight leaves Gannavaram at 15:00 hours daily except on Tuesdays.

Kingfisher flight for Chennai leaves at 16.26 hours daily except on Wednesdays.

Air passengers can contact Kingfisher Airlines on phone No: 08676 253538-39 and Jet Airways on phone No: 08676 253977-88 for any info about flight timings.