Thieuvananthapuram: As the Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) is set to hold its first anniversary celebrations of the airport on Monday, it finds itself heading into headwinds over a host of issues.
Against the terminals designed with a capacity to accommodate nine million passengers a year, the airport is handling an average of 4,000 passengers per day, taking the total passenger volume in the opening year to less than 15 lakh (1.5 million). According to the data available with the civil aviation ministry, the daily average number of passengers in Kannur Airport is close to 4,000 from January 1, 2019, till November 15, 2019. The highest daily average of 5,131 was recorded in August.
According to sources, the airport’s monthly revenue hovers around Rs 4 crore and it requires around Rs 13 crore to meet its operational expenses every month, which include the salary for employees as well as Central Industrial Security Force personnel as well. The fact that only four airlines - Air India, Air India Express, Indigo and Go Air - are utilising the airport further worsens the situation.
The state’s request to the centre to grant ‘point of call’ status for the airport, which will allow foreign airlines to operate to and from the airport, was rejected on the ground that the status is considered on the principles of reciprocity in terms of commercial opportunity for the airlines of each side.
09/12/19 Dhinesh Kallungal/New Indian Express
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Against the terminals designed with a capacity to accommodate nine million passengers a year, the airport is handling an average of 4,000 passengers per day, taking the total passenger volume in the opening year to less than 15 lakh (1.5 million). According to the data available with the civil aviation ministry, the daily average number of passengers in Kannur Airport is close to 4,000 from January 1, 2019, till November 15, 2019. The highest daily average of 5,131 was recorded in August.
According to sources, the airport’s monthly revenue hovers around Rs 4 crore and it requires around Rs 13 crore to meet its operational expenses every month, which include the salary for employees as well as Central Industrial Security Force personnel as well. The fact that only four airlines - Air India, Air India Express, Indigo and Go Air - are utilising the airport further worsens the situation.
The state’s request to the centre to grant ‘point of call’ status for the airport, which will allow foreign airlines to operate to and from the airport, was rejected on the ground that the status is considered on the principles of reciprocity in terms of commercial opportunity for the airlines of each side.
09/12/19 Dhinesh Kallungal/New Indian Express
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