Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Association of Travel Agents (KATA) has alleged that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has not taken into account traffic projections and needs of travellers, airlines, customs and immigration while taking up the construction of the new international terminal of the airport.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, association president K.V. Muralidharan and general secretary Channankara M.P. Kunju said the proposed world class international terminal on the Chakka side would not even have the same number of checking and emigration counters as at the existing international terminal of the airport.

While 11 aircrafts could park at the same time at the existing international terminal, the new terminal under construction had facility to park just four aircraft. At present, six airlines operated at the same time and this number was likely to go up to eight or 10 by the end of the year.

The AAI had not taken any initiative to hold talks with the airlines, customs and emigration officials, and representatives of travel agents on their needs and requirements. No step had been taken to hold talks with people's representatives and others as in 1994, they said.

The airport needed modern facilities and lounges to handle 40 lakh passengers in the next 10 years. The authorities had not taken into account the likely increase in traffic through the airport. The Airport Advisory Committee had not been re-constituted, the association leaders said.

Mr. Muralidharan said people in the southern districts and nearby Tamil Nadu and Non-Resident Keralites were apprehensive whether the development of the airport would be sabotaged.

Land acquisition for the second phase of the airport had not begun. The Government had not provided funds for the land acquisition in the budget. The association demanded the that remaining land for the second phase development be acquired at the market price.

The reluctance of many foreign airlines to operate to the city was owing to the lack of facilities. The Government and the MPs from the State should put pressure on the Union Civil Aviation Minister, the association leaders said.

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