Kannur International Airport Ltd. (KIAL) Managing Director V. Thulasidas has said that the proposed extension of the runway of the airport under construction here to 3,400 metres and further to 4,000 metres is not required in the near future as the existing length of 3050 metres is adequate to operate the most-wide-bodied aircrafts to the farthest destinations of the Gulf.
Interacting with representatives of the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce (NMCC), Kodagu Chamber of Commerce (KCC), Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), and the Kodagu Hotel and Restaurant Association (KHRA) at a function organised by the NMCC here on Thursday, Mr. Thulasidas said that KIAL’s requirements for commercial operation are the same as the other airports in the State in the near future.
“In our catchment area, we have the second largest concentration of non-resident Indians working in the Gulf countries,” he said adding that the airport might also operate some flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The Kannur airport would not need in the near future to operate big aircrafts such as Boeing 777 and Airbus A 380, he said.
“The existing runway length of 3,050 metres is adequate for the operation of Boeing 777-400 ER or Airbus 330 and smaller aircrafts,” he said adding that KIAL would keep provision for the operation of bigger aircrafts.
Announcing that the runway work had already been completed, Mr. Thulasidas said that the remaining works including lighting would be finished by March next year. The commercial operation of the airport would begin by mid-2017. Fourteen airlines had been very keen to start operation from the new airport, he said. As cargo was very important part of the airport business, he urged the business community in the region to plan to utilise the business opportunities.
“We have decided to build a cargo complex on the basis of the requirement of the business community,” he said and added that KIAL was also planning to start a flight kitchen to provide catering service for the airlines. Within the airport premises a herbal garden and an Ayurveda resort would be built on a 10-acre plot, he said.
NMCC president Sushil Aaron, vice-president C.V. Deepak, KCC president B.N. Prakash, MCCI president A.S. Satish and KHRA president B.R. Nagendra Prasad were among those present at the interaction.
