Coimbatore International airport loses yet again an opportunity for reasons not clear, in terms of cargo handling.
Coimbatore International airport loses yet again an opportunity for reasons not clear, in terms of cargo handling.
FlyDubai which was supposed to operate three flights exclusively for cargo cancelled the flights citing commercial reasons. FlyDubai had announced three exclusive cargo flights on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday between May 23 and 31. But citing commercial reasons, the airlines cancelled all the three flights.
A lot of speculation go around the cancellation of the flights. "Though the airlines claim that they are cancelling the flights for commercial reasons, there may be more to it than what meets the eye. Coimbatore airport has always been given secondary treatment and FlyDubai cancelling cargo flights might be because of such reasons too. They say the cost per ton is a problem, but why announce flights when they had cost issues and then cancel them?" questioned an industrialist.
"Obtaining permission from DVAC is a big problem in itself and in spite of getting a go-ahead, FlyDubai has wasted this opportunity. A direct flight to Dubai is a long-standing demand but for reasons known only to the authorities, Coimbatore airport still hasn't got one flight to Dubai.
Though reasons like Coimbatore is not a point of call airport has been said always, we need a strong lobby like our neighbouring state where even a new airport can get 10 to 12 international carriers and we still have only three, that too not on a daily basis. Like our passenger flight demand, Coimbatore airport is overlooked even for cargo flight services, " added the source.
"Coimbatore airport in normal times handle 1000 plus metric tonnes of cargo. During COVID time, even when there are no line flights, at least if we had cargo flights, that would have brought some hope to the traders. We got reports that tonnes of vegetables perished during COVID lockdown.
Coimbatore airport can cater to neighbouring districts like Nilgiris, Erode, Tirupur and even Palghat . Airlines could have used this opportunity to use Coimbatore airport when airports like Trichy have done very well . Nine flights of Spice and Indigo have carried cargo from Trichy during COVID, whereas Coimbatore had just two flights in the first week of May, carrying about 33 tonnes in total," lamented a source.
According to A. Sakthivel, Chairman Apparel Export Promotion Council, " If there is a confirmed schedule of cargo flights , traders would have confidence. Traders from the Nilgiris, Erode and Salem would have preferred Coimbatore to export perishables. Coimbatore airport should have been used better for cargo transport. We definitely have immense potential in this region "
Various sources have opined Coimbatore airport has been continuously neglected and only a strong lobby and political maneuvering will can help in getting more international flights and improve cargo movement from the Kongu region.