Onus on new govt to get point-of-call status for Kannur airport

T'puram: The new govt that will take over soon may have to push for more flights, especially international flights, from Kannur airport, which was built during the previous UDF govt's tenure. Though it's been eight years since it was inaugurated, the civil aviation ministry is yet to give a point-of-call status that will allow foreign carriers to start services. Now, the airport handles around 10 flights in a day and has flights to Dubai, Dammam, Muscat, Riyadh, Abu Dhabi operated by Indian carriers. The state govt had demanded the ministry of civil aviation to allot point-of-call status to the airport so that more flights can be operated to destinations in the Middle East because 25% of NRIs of the state live in the catchment area of the airport. However, the ministry declined the request.In a written reply in Parliament, the minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, said, "At present, the Govt of India promotes more international operations by Indian carriers from non-metro points either directly or through their own domestic operations. Accordingly, non-metro points, including Kannur, are not being granted new points of call in the air services agreements to any foreign country."The minister said that Indian carriers can operate flights to destinations within the bilateral agreements."The start of international flights from any point in India, including Kannur, is purely a commercial decision of the airlines based on the availability of slots, market requirement, economic viability of the route and other associated factors," the minister said. Air India Express operates most number of international flights but the number of flights does not match the demand for seats, especially during summer months and on holidays.Travel and tour operators feel that the new govt may have to push the Union govt to relax the norms so that foreign carriers can start flights. In the absence of adequate flights, NROs are forced to depend on Mangaluru airport or land in Bengaluru or Kochi.Travel and tour operators say that there is a need to have more international flights from the airport so that the people of northern region can benefit. "There is no point of having an airport and calling it international when there are inadequate flights and foreign carriers are not allowed to fly," said a travel agent.The ministry says that granting point-of-call rights to foreign carriers depends on benefits to Indian aviation, diaspora presence, Indian carriers' future plans, reciprocity and balance of benefits between countries.The domestic flights too are fewer, though northern districts have emerged as a popular tourism destination for people from Mumbai and Bengaluru.