Relaxation of rules sought by Silk Air

Visakhapatnam: The civil aviation policy which states that international airlines can only connect to one single domestic destination before flying into a foreign destination is what is deterring international airlines like Singapore’s Silk Air to launch the airline service to Vijayawada and increase the days from the present 3 to 5 in a week from Vizag. At present, Vizag is the only international airport in the state that has three international airlines operating to Dubai, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Silk Air is ready to hop its Vizag-Singapore flight to Vijayawada but the aviation policy is deterring it.

A discussion in this regard also  took place during a meeting held with various stakeholders of tourism and airlines industry in the city,  a few days ago. At present, Vizag is directly connected to Dubai, Singapore and Malaysia. “As ours is a new state,  to promote the new capital city, Amaravati, the hopping facility for few international airlines like Silk Air who are willing to do so can be considered by the civil aviation ministry with a rider that only international passengers will be allowed and domestic passengers who wish to ply between Vizag and Vijayawada will not be allowed. If the hopping is allowed, Silk Air, it is learnt, will also increase the flight frequency,” said honorary chairman of Tours and Travels Association of Andhra O. Naresh Kumar.

Representations in this regard were sent to the civil aviation ministry from the industry bodies on allowing private airlines to touch at least two domestic destinations before flying into foreign destination. As of now, only the national carrier, Air India, has this privilege. “At present, Air India is operating Vizag-Hyd-Dubai flight on daily basis for the facility of people in coastal districts. Apart from this, there is a huge potentiality for air connectivity to Colombo and Bangkok from AP. In view of the requirement, we request the civil aviation minister to consider operating the same flight from Vijayawada-Vizag-Dubai, 3 days a week, 2 days to Colombo and 2 days to Bangkok, covering 3 countries from AP,” said AP ATA president Y. Siva Sagar Rao Andhra Pradesh. In view of the future demand, the number of flights can be increased through which the air connectivity to the financial capital of Andhra Pradesh will get boosted,” said Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Associatin president, Y Siva Sgar Rao.