KOCHI: The State government’s new initiatives for a greenfield airport at Erumeli has surprised many in the aviation sector.
For, they feel that the State’s urgent requirement is a string of airstrips or two-tier airports capable of ferrying passengers and tourists across the length and breadth of the State.
Kerala is the only Indian state having four international airports in a small radius.
Experts opine that rather than benefiting the aviation sector even slightly, setting up another international airport in a nondescript region will, to some extend, badly affect the performance of existing airports in the State.
Speaking to ‘Express’, a senior official attached to the Kochi-headquartered Air India Express, the low-cost arm of Air India, said Erumeli was a town that came to life for around 68 days a year, when the Sabarimala pilgrim season began.
“An airstrip or a small domestic airport capable of handling smaller aircrafts is enough to cater to the needs of Sabarimala pilgrims,” he stated.
Biji Eapen, National President, IATA Agents Association of India, said, “Since the Centre has launched a regional connectivity scheme, UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik), with flights priced at Rs. 2,500 for an hour of flying time to and from regional airports, what the State requires is more airstrips and tier-two airports at vantage points in the state.”
At the fag end of his term, former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had announced that the government would entrust Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) with construction of an airstrip at Bekal and eight helipads across the State.
Later, Finance Minster T M Thomas Isaac, who presented the first budget of the current LDF Government, said the government will accord due consideration for developing airstrips at Bekal, Wayanad and Idukki. However, only the Bekal and Idukki airstrips found mention in CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s meeting with the Union Civil Aviation Minister the other day.
Airline officials said traffic flow to Sabarimala during the pilgrimage season was mainly from various South Indian cities and that domestic air travel between various places within the state was still in a nascent stage.“So, developing a small domestic airport that facilitates landing and take-off of a 60-seater aircraft is best suited for the area. The state should also focus on promoting a hub-and-spoke air traffic system in the state,” they added.