Air India and Dubai-based Emirates are still awaiting the approval of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to resume the operation of their wide-bodied aircraft at the Calicut airport. Both airlines have submitted reports on compatibility study and safety assessment for the purpose.
Currently, only Saudia (Saudi Arabian Airlines) is operating wide-bodied aircraft after it secured the DGCA’s approval last December. Air India had conducted two assessments in August and December, and Emirates in March.
Many say the decision to give approval has been kept in abeyance on account of the model code of conduct in force during the Lok Sabha election. “This is purely technical as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) headquarters in Delhi wants every aspect of the airline operator to be clarified,” airport director K. Srinivasa Rao told The Hindu on Friday.
He said Saudia had submitted an assessment report and mitigation plan for the Boeing 777-200 and Airbus 330-300. “However, Air India and Emirates are seeking permission to operate different types of aircraft,” he said.
Apart from the permission to operate Boeing 777-200 and Airbus 330-300, Mr. Rao said Air India had sought permission for Boeing 777-400, one of the largest twin-jet aircraft, as well as Boeing 787 Dreamliner, a long-haul, mid-size wide-body aircraft. He said Emirates also wanted to operate its mixed fleet of Boeing and Airbus.
The DGCA had given the No Objection Certificate (NOC) to Saudia and the Calicut airport to operate Boeing 777-200 and the Airbus 330-300 under Code E and it would be reviewed after three years.
It was recently that the UAE expressed unhappiness with the Ministry for Aviation not allowing more Gulf flights to India.
The air services agreement between India and the UAE has been pending for five years.
