Permit International Airlines to operate from Calicut Airport

Mr. Praful Patel
Hon. Minister of Civil Aviation
Govt. of India
New Delhi, India

Dear Hon. Minister Praful Patel,

Calicut Airport was given the status of international airport on February 2, 2006. Subsequently the infrastructure there was improved for handling international flights.

Airports Authority of India had provided runway lead-in lighting system for the first time in India at Calicut airport as per the recommendations of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation. The system has been put into service for night operations since October, 2003.

A 15,000-sq meter international arrival terminal has been opened to passengers, similar to the modern and spacious international departure terminal that became operational on May 14, 2007.

As many as 240 international flights operate from the Calicut airport a week. Total number of international passengers using Calicut airport were put at more than half million a year.

The Airport and its passengers have been a cash cow for Air India Express and Indian through Gulf Malayalees ever since the Airport was started. So they see to it that no other major international air lines operate from there and share their profits. Delayed flights, passenger abuse both by airline authorities and customs happens on a daily basis.

Many International Airlines from abroad including budget airlines are eagerly waiting to operate services from Calicut. The central government had given permission to international airlines to land in Pune, Nagpur and Coimbatore airports though these airports have few international passengers, flights and facilities.

Civil aviation ministry had recently permitted Indian private air line Jet Airways to fly to a few Gulf destinations. But in order to protect the monopoly of Air India Express and Indian in the sector, the ministry did not give Jet Airways permission to fly to UAE and Saudi Arabia which have the largest Malayalee population.

The fear of Air India and Indian that competition and low air fare will hit their business makes no sense as one of our study found that if the air fare is less the expatriates will travel more frequently and the airline business will flourish. We also feel that competition will improve services and benefit end users in a big way.

So, we collectively appeal to Hon. Minister of Civil Aviation Mr. Praful Patel, to permit international airlines to fly to Calicut airport without any further delay.


Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust