Minister vows to end woes of air travellers

Khaleej Times

By our correspondent

29 December 2007 TRIVANDRUM — Federal Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel yesterday promised an end to the miseries of passengers at the Karipur international airport in north Kerala.

He made the promise in a letter to Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan after the latter informed about the difficulties faced by the passengers, especially the expatriates working in the Middle East, to his notice.

Patel has assured Achuthanandan that he would personally intervene in the issue. Air India chairman Thulsidas later rang up the chief minister and assured that he would take steps to improve the services of the national carrier.

Achuthanandan had taken up the matter with the minister in the light of the continuing clashes between passengers and airline officials over the frequent disruption in the services. The former said that the delay in the departure of flights from Karipur has been leading to loss of jobs to many.

The non-resident Keralites, who have come on leave, as well as fresh recruits have not been able to reach their destination before the expiry of their visa due to the inordinate delay in the departure of flights, he pointed out.

Achuthanandan blamed the indifferent attitude of Air India towards the passenger as the root cause for the problems faced by the passengers in the airport. He accused the national carrier of neglecting the passengers.

Gulf passengers believe that their woes would end only if the airport is opened to foreign airlines. They say that Air India and Indian have been exploiting passengers as they enjoy near monopoly.

Dubai-based Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust feels that the Civil Aviation Ministry was not giving landing right to foreign airlines fearing that it would lead to a dip in the revenue of Air India and Indian. Sri Lankan Airlines is the only foreign airline allowed to operate from Karipur at present.

Applications of several airlines, including Gulf Air, for landing right in Karipur are pending with the ministry. Trust chairman K V Shamsudheen said that the fears of the ministry and the airlines were misplaced as both the airlines have been doing well in Cochin Trivandrum despite presence of several foreign airlines.

The federal minister had earlier promised the people's representatives and the Malabar Chamber of Commerce that his ministry would give clearance to foreign airlines willing to operate services to the airport.