KOZHIKODE: With the summer vacation just around the corner, the airlines are charging exorbitant fares on the Gulf sector as the number of seats have dwindled after the Calicut Airport closed its runway to wide-bodied aircraft in May for maintenance work.
The aviation authorities have indicated that the services could not be resumed unless the state makes enough land available for expanding its tabletop runway.
The Haj embarkation point shifted to Cochin last year is also unlikely to be restored this season.
Malabar Development Council chair C.E. Chakunni said Air-India charges around Rs 6,000 from Kochi to Abu Dhabi in the first week of March, but it was Rs 19,300 from Calicut to Abu Dhabi.
With the school vacation beginning here, there is a rush for flights to Gulf for children to join their parents. Airfares from Calicut to Abu Dhabi on Wednesday varied from Rs 28,203 (Air India Express) to '77,432 (Jet Airways).
“The runway expansion is almost over, and it is stronger manifold now,” Mr Chakkunni said. He says Mangalore airport, also with an accident-prone tabletop runway, operates widebody aircraft and eleven airports are facing critical safety issues in India.
"But only the wings of Karipur remain clipped," he told DC. Meanwhile, the Calicut Airport Action Council in a press release demanded the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to reinstate the international flights as the runway has been strengthened adequately.
All the wide-bodied aircraft had been operating from the once weak runway regularly and now even after strengthening the runway AAI is denying permission for the same, it said.
The technical teams of Emirates, Saudi Airlines and Air India had already cleared the proposal to operate big aircraft from Karipur. But AAI remains adamant.k
