Madurai: Non-inclusion of Madurai airport in bilateral air services agreement (BASA) with countries having potential for international passenger and cargo traffic from here has been a major bottleneck in converting Madurai airport into an international terminal. This has been holding back operation of international flights from Madurai to popular destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Muscat and Sharjah.
Traders and travel agents are looking up to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation for including the airport in the bilateral agreement to realise the immense potential for international air services from Madurai and southern districts.
“Sri Lankan Airlines is likely to announce its schedule to Madurai any time. Madurai is listed among the airports in the bilateral agreement with Sri Lanka. But operation of flights from other countries cannot be done without the bilateral agreement,” Senior President of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industries S. Rethinavelu said.
While laying the foundation for the new terminal building in 2008, the then Civil Aviation Minister, Praful Patel, had promised that the first international flight would land on the day of its inauguration.
26/01/12 S Sundar/The Hindu
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