A Raja, the Nilgiris MP raised questions in Parliament today regarding the Civil Aviation Ministry's proposal to grant air routes based on viability.
A Raja, the Nilgiris MP raised questions in Parliament today regarding the Civil Aviation Ministry's proposal to grant air routes based on viability.
He pointed out that in spite of applications from Coimbatore airport for air routes to Bangkok , Kuala Lumpur and Dubai, as well as viability reports submitted by officials after due diligence, Coimbatore airport has still not been granted these air routes.
The Nilgiris MP further pointed out that for the 25000 crores specified as CapEx , there was no corresponding OpEx mentioned. He questioned the Civil Aviation Minister of State, Hardeep Singh Puri, saying, "If airports like Coimbatore are not granted air routes in spite of viability reports and applications pending for 10 years, how will the OpEx be met."
Hardeep Singh Puri replied to the query saying, "Only on inclusion in Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) will lead to the point of call for international airlines. For Coimbatore, a large number of applications are from foreign carriers. National carriers will be given priority and if they get an equitable share, only then foreign airlines will be considered. Indians are flying to the US and Europe, using neighbouring international hubs of foreign carriers. BASA will be revisited but the Government will primarily support the Indian national carrier, Air India."
There has been a long standing demand from various bodies to include Coimbatore airport in BASA, so that foreign carriers will start services to the Middle East and Kuala Lumpur (KL) since there are a large number of passengers travelling from Coimbatore to Dubai, to reach the US. Also, there is considerable air traffic to Malaysia for which passengers from Coimbatore have to travel either to Trichy, Kochi or Chennai to reach KL.
Out of the MP raising his concerns in Parliament, the question that arises is whether with more such representations at appropriate forums by elected representatives, will the neglected Coimbatore airport get its fair share of new air routes?