Kozhikode: The hopes of over 11 lakh Keralites working in Saudi Arabia for a hassle-free journey to Kozhikode are yet to materialise as the Saudi Airlines has not received clearance for operating wide-bodied planes to the destination. The director-general of civil aviation (DGCA) had issued an NOC for operating big aircraft to Kozhikode International Airport on August 9 and the Saudi Airlines had approached the authorities concerned for commencement of flights to Saudi Arabia. However, their request is still pending clearance.
The airport users association is set to stage a protest in front of
the DGCA office at Karipur demanding to open the airport for Saudi Airlines immediately.
The airlines had stopped its schedules to Kozhikode after the DGCA denied permission for operating wide-bodied aircraft from the airport in 2015. The NRKs in Saudi Arabia had been using other airports to reach their destinations in Kerala for over three years now, said Mr K.M. Basheer of the airport users forum.
"We will demand to expedite the permission to Saudi Airlines to start flight operations. Over 11 lakh north Kerala NRIs in Saudi Arabia and in the agriculture and commerce sectors of Malabar are waiting for the commencement of the flights," he added.
The AAI and DGCA had jointly conducted an 'on ground' study on operating big aircraft from the airport in October 2017 and recommended permission for RB 777-200 ERR, RB 777-300 ER, RB 787-800 Dream-liner ER, A 330-300 from the airport.
