Shashi Tharoor, MP, has urged the Centre to respond sensitively to demands from the people of the State capital for enhanced air connectivity and to work with the airlines who have stopped service to resolve the matter.
Expressing concern over the cancellation of domestic and international flights operating to and from Thiruvananthapuram international airport, Mr. Tharoor said the capital city was poised for a surge in demand for air connectivity and needed more flights, not less.
In profit
The airport had witnessed growth in footfall over the years and was handling nearly five million passengers annually. “That Thiruvananthapuram airport consistently makes profit is a testimony to its demand. It is among the 15 AAI-owned airports in the country to do so,” he said. The city’s demand for greater air connectivity would jump manifold in the very near future with the commencement of operations at the Vizhinjam port and the establishment of multi-national IT giants like Nissan at Technopark.
The recent flight cancellations could not have come at a more inopportune moment. National and international carriers were curtailing operations in Thiruvananthapuram. Mr. Tharoor said he had made repeated entreaties to private operators to start operations or increase the frequency of flights to the State capital.
Till a solution was found to meet the demand, it was important that Air India, the national carrier, stepped in to offer its services in the discontinued sectors, the MP said.
RFP
He also said the issuing of Request For Proposals (RFP) and invitations for tenders to select the private player had been conducted without due regard to the principles of transparency and accountability. They added to worries among the city residents that the Central government was not serious about enhancing air connectivity to Thiruvananthapuram.
The government should be more forthcoming of its plans for the future development of the premier airport, he said.
