Two more international airlines are set to operate to the Thiruvananthapuram international airport soon.
AirAsia, Malaysian low-cost airline headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, and flydubai, low-cost airline owned by the Government of Dubai, will commence operations by next month.
“We have allocated office space at the international terminal building for the two airlines and they are keen to commence operations soon,” Airport Director V.N. Chandran told The Hindu .
Formalities overThe airlines have expedited steps to complete the remaining formalities, he said.
The two airlines are among the many that had approached the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Airports Authority of India to commence flight operations to the city.
flydubai is to operate thrice-a-week on the Dubai- Thiruvananthapuram -Dubai sector.
The flights will offer seats in both business and economy classes.
AirAsia has sought a night-time parking slot at the airport.
Kish Airline, Iranian regional airline operating services from Kish Island , has also filed papers for commencing flights from the State capital, Mr. Chandran said.
Other airlinesRAK Airways, national airline of Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE; Malindo Air, based in Malaysia and headquartered in Petaling Jaya; the Bangalore-based ABC Airways; and the Vijayawada-based Air Costa are the other airliners interested in operating to Thiruvananthapuram.
With the commencement of services of the two airlines, the number of airlines, including the national carrier Air India, operating domestic and international flights to the State capital will touch 18.
Gulf Air, national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, was the last to commence flights to the city in December 2013.