Hyderabad: The new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad, Hyderabad started its first commercial operations with the landing of a Lufthansa aircraft in the early hours of Sunday as the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) decided on 20th March to start commercial operations at the new airport from 22nd March, 2008.

The air craft was from Frankfurt, Germany. It was carrying 276 passengers and crew members. All the passengers were stupendously greeted on their arrival at the new airport.

Though there are constant complains from the passengers about the long time it takes to reach the new airport, business men believe that its international touch and world class facilities would soon make Hyderabad a world class city.

“This airport will give further impetus to the development of the city. The business will grow as Hyderabad is known for its IT and biotechnology industry,” says Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

There have been a five star hotel built by the developers at the airport premises and several other mega commercial projects and a metro railway will be developed soon near it.

Prices of lands near the airport have risen up immediately. The real estate developers have already started their work catering to non-resident Indians, techies and others.

The new international airport is expected to transform the colors of the city. With the new commercial operations the brand image of Hyderabad is touching the sky attracting huge investments in IT sector, biotechnology and other sectors. Now it is creating a bigger image as a home to software giants, commercials and as a prominently emerging key IT hub.