Civil Aviation Minister’s intervention sought to augment international connectivity of Calicut  airport

Civil Aviation Minister’s intervention sought to augment international connectivity of Calicut airport

Greater Malabar Initiative (GMI) formed by industrialists, healthcare professionals and eminent persons to promote development of the Malabar region called upon Union Civil Aviation Minister Shri P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju’s intervention for securing DGCA’s speedy approval for landing of wide-bodied jets at the Calicut airport – thereby strengthening  its international connectivity.A GMI team led by Chairman Dr. Azad Moopen submitted a memorandum to the Hon’ble Minister at his office in the capital today. The appeal sought to point out that augmenting Calicut’s international connectivity  is critical for promoting exports and tourism in the region. Currently wide-bodied jets are not allowed to land in the airport hindering international connectivity, especially with Gulf countries. Final work on the runway is expected to be completed by March next year.

Dr. Azad Moopen, Chairman of GMI said, ‘’Calicut’s economic development hinges on international connectivity. The withdrawal of wide-bodied aircraft services has caused considerable hardship to travellers from Kozhikode, Malappuram and Wayanad districts. Insufficient cargo movement hasalso hit farmers and exporters who send perishable goods to the Gulf countries.We have requested Hon’ble Civil Aviation Minister for his support to ensure that the necessary DGCA approval is accelerated as soon as the final re-carpeting work is completed in March next year. We are hopeful of a speedy clearance.’’

Calicut Airport commenced operations in 1988 with a short 6,000 feet runway. After 4 years, the runway length was extended to 9380 feet to enable bigger aircrafts to operate to Calicut connecting with Gulf countries through erstwhile Indian Airlines. In 2006, more international flights including Hajj flights were being operated using wide-bodied aircrafts. The airport was partially closed for re-carpeting and pavement strengthening since May 2015.

You might also like

Diplomat's Corner

SLOVAKIA: A COUNTRY REPLETE WITH NATURE’S BOUNTIES

In recent years, Slovakia has emerged as an attractive tourist destination. Notwithstanding its small size, the country located in the central part of Europe is replete with abundant bounties of nature. The

Trending

ixigo introduces India’s First Augmented Reality Feature for Train Passengers

iPhone users can accurately locate their coach position on railway platforms, like never before ixigo, India’s leading travel marketplace, has introduced India’s first augmented reality (AR) feature on its trains

AirAsia X increasing more Teheran flight

AIRASIA X Bhd, the long-haul low-cost arm of budget carrier AirAsia, is adding more flights to Teheran from Kuala Lumpur six months after resuming its flight to the capital of