Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Travel agents demand more flights

Staff Reporter

MPs told to put pressure on Centre to allow more airlines to operate to capital

Thiruvananthapuram : The Kerala Association of Travel Agents has urged the State Government and the Members of Parliament from the southern districts to exert pressure on the Civil Aviation Ministry to commence more flights of Air-India and Indian and grant permission for more airlines to operate to Thiruvananthapuram.

The MP's should take the issue up with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is scheduled to visit the State capital on November 1, association president K.V. Muraleedharan and general secretary Channankara M.P. Kunju told a press conference here on Sunday.

The association leaders said permission was not granted by the Civil Aviation Ministry to foreign airlines like Saudi Air, Mahan Air, Malaysian Airlines, Air Arabia and Ethihad Air to operate to the State capital.

Mr. Muraleedharan alleged that Air-India and Indian were refusing to operate more flights from the premier airport of the State. The stand by the two airlines not to operate additional flights to Gulf countries, Europe, the U.S., Singapore, Malaysia and Japan would hamper the development of the airport.

While Air-India and Air-India Express operated 65 weekly flights from Karipur airport and 56 from Nedumbassery, it operated just 32 services from Thiruvananthapuram. The long-pending demand raised by the travel trade for direct check-in facility from the city to Europe and the U.S. via Mumbai was implemented so far, he said.

The association leaders said Indian operated six weekly international flights from the capital to the Gulf sector. It operated 27 international flights from Karipur airport and 17 from Nedumbassery.

"The argument that lack of load factor is preventing from increasing the flights from the State capital is not true. Emirates and SriLankan Airlines recently increased their weekly flights to and from Thiruvananthapuram to cater to the heavy demand for seats. SriLankan increased their flights from seven to 15 and all flights are going full", Mr. Muraleedharan said. The association said on an average one-lakh passengers travel fr om the international airport in 803 international flights.

The airport recorded 17 per cent increase in passenger movement and 28 per cent increase in number of flights last year. Over 42,200 passengers travelled through 614 domestic flights from the airport in a month last year.

In the domestic sector, the increase in passenger movement is 83 per cent and that of flights is 127 per cent. The association leaders alleged that Air-India and Indian were refusing to operate additional flights from the city despite the heavy demand for various sectors.

Welcoming the decision of Airports Authority of India to construct a modern world-class international terminal for the airport on the city side, Mr. Muraleedharan said the airport had to overcome many obstacles.

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