The Calicut International Airport is gearing up to resume operation of wide-bodied aircraft, with the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) giving approval to Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) to operate Boeing 777-200 Extended Range and Airbus 330-300 under Code E.
“At any time, airline companies can begin operation of flights after getting the schedule. Saudia has already got approval from the DGCA after meeting the safety assessment and mitigation measures for the operation of wide-bodied aircraft,” airport director K. Srinivasa Rao told The Hindu on Monday.
Director of Operations (aero standards) D.C. Sharma had issued a No-Objection Certificate on August 8 to Saudia for the operation of two types of wide-bodied aircraft subject to compliance with the specified mitigation measures. The airline company is readying to operate flights possibly from next month, it is learnt.
As regards Air India, Mr. Rao said it was yet to get approval from the regulatory body. “Of course, Air India has submitted a detailed report on the compatibility of operation and safety assessment of wide-bodied aircraft,” he added.
Mr. Sharma also said the Dubai-based Emirates was planning to conduct a safety assessment and take mitigation measures for the resumption of Code E aircraft operations.
Meanwhile, a release said Emirates officials in Kerala would soon hold discussions with aviation officials and the airport director after talks between Aster DM Healthcare chairman Azad Moopen, who is also the Gulf Area convener of Malabar Area Development Action Council, and Emirates Operations senior vice president Ahmed Khoori in Dubai.
The operation of wide-bodied aircraft was banned at the airport from May 2015 in the wake of the Court of Inquiry report on the Air India Express Boeing 737 crash in Mangaluru in May 2010. Saudia, Emirates, and Air India had expressed willingness to operate wide-bodied aircraft such as Boeing777-200 Extended Range, Boeing 777-200 Longer Range, Airbus 330-300, Airbus 330-300R, Boeing 777-300 Extended Range, and Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner after the expansion of the Runway End Safety Area in June.
