: Representatives of 15 airlines are expected to participate in the International Airlines Summit, being organised jointly by the AP Air Travellers Association (APATA) and AP Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Tour and Travels Association of AP, here on March 26.
The objective of the summit is to rope in more airline operators, both domestic and international, to operate flights from Visakhapatnam International Airport as also from Vijayawada, Tirupati and Rajahmundry airports. The potential of cargo exports from AP, creation of additional infrastructure facilities and provision of better amenities to passengers would also be discussed at the summit, APATA working president Cheruvu Ramakotaiah and director of AP Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (APCCIF), Visakhapatnam, O. Naresh Kumar, told a media conference here on Thursday.
Mr. Ramakotaiah said Visakhapatnam International Airport was number 1 among the Type II airports in India and hoped that more exporters would consider Vizag for exports. Pawan Hans was prepared to operate 12-seater aircraft from Vizag, provided it was given a base at the airport. He said15 airline operators would participate in the summit. He recalled as to how APATA, in its earlier avatar as VATA, brought the Singapore High Commissioner to Visakhapatnam in the past.
Mr. Naresh Kumar said that Etihad Airways had given a written request for operation of direct flights from Visakhapatnam to Dubai it was not approved by the Government of India due to bilateral issues. He sought that Air India should operate direct flights to Dubai for the benefit of passengers flying from Vizag to Dubai. He hoped that the meet would pave the way for improvement of infrastructure at the four airports in Andhra Pradesh apart from formulation of airline policies.
APCCIF vice-president G. Sambasiva Rao felt that temporary infrastructure facilities need to be developed at the Vizag airport in view of the growing passenger traffic and vast cargo potential from the city for the next few years. He, however, said that development of a Greenfield International Airport at Bhogapuram, around 40 km from the city, was inevitable.
President of Tours and Travels Association of Andhra Pradesh K. Vijay Mohan said that only 40 seats were being allotted to Vizag on the Air India Visakhapatnam-Dubai flight via Hyderabad, which was not adequate to meet the demand. He felt that international airline operators like Air Arabia and Fly Dubai would provide better connectivity to people travelling beyond Dubai. APATA vice-president D.S. Varma was present. Union Minister of Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju will participate as chief guest at the summit and Visakhapatnam MP K. Haribabu would be the guest of honour at the summit to be held at The Gateway Hotel on Beach Road. The Directors of Visakhapatnam International Airport, Vijayawada, Tirupati and Rajahmundry Airports would give their presentations on the development of the respective airports.
Government officials, public representatives, hoteliers, tour operators and industrialists would participate in the interactive meeting.
