(a) whether the Airports Authority of India has considered resuming operation of wide body aircraft from Calicut Airport;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether some airlines expressed their willingness to operate wide body aircraft from Calicut airport, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether Air India has considered resuming the discontinued services including Delhi-Kozhikode sector; and
(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
The Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Jayant Sinha)
(a) & (b): Yes, Madam. Calicut Airport is suitable for operations of wide-bodied aircraft upto Code D type, i.e. B-767, A-310 type of aircraft. In view of operational safety reasons due to inadequate runway length and width of basic strip, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has not granted permission for operations of Code ''E'' type of aircraft at this airport. However, after conducting joint inspection and carrying out studies on various parameters, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought In-Principal approval of DGCA for extension of Runway from 2850m to 3500m suitable for operation of B-777-300/B-747-400 (Code E) type aircraft by extending same table top configuration with additional land requirement of 96.5 acres.
(c) : Yes, Madam. Air India, Saudi Airlines and Emirates Airlines have expressed their willingness to operate wide bodied aircraft from Calicut Airport.;
(d) & (e) : In the Winter schedule 2017, Air India Express ( a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India) is operating 6 flights/week on Calicut-Riyadh Sector. However, at present, Air India has no plans to resume Delhi-Kozhikode flight due to resource constraints.