VISAKHAPATNAM: The Air Travellers’ Association (ATA) is organising a seminar at Hotel Four Points Sheraton in the city at 10 am Sunday in which 250 delegates related to Indian and International airlines, tourism sector and other departments aside from bureaucrats from in and around Visakhapatnam would participate. The seminar would focus on Visakhapatnam Airport’s regional connectivity and cargo exports.
Divulging the details to the mediamen here Friday, ATA president S Varada Reddy said that there was a dire need to focus on the issues of Visakhapatnam Airport even though the state government initiated steps for developing regional airports.
“Even as Vijayawada and Tirupati are in the race for setting up international airports, Vizag needs a push since it already has an international airport and is being safely run by the Indian Navy.”
With the introduction of cargo system, around 2,000 tonnes of material can be exported every week. This apart, the airport was encountering certain issues with regard to security and safety measures, needs new terminals in support of the old ones and an increase in manpower, which would be discussed with the ministers at the earliest, he added.
Civil aviation minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Parliament members T Subbarami Reddy, K Hari Babu and M Srinivasa Rao, Panchayat Raj minister Ch Ayyana Patrudu, HRD minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao, minister of state for commerce and industry N Sitaraman, Eastern Naval Command flag officer commanding-in-chief vice-admiral Sathish Soni and district collector N Yuvaraj will attend the seminar. Delegates from Fly Dubai India, Air Sri Lanka, Air Arabia and other airlines will also participate.