Lok Sabha Question No. 110 (STARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: International Operations from Kannur Airport
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: Kumbakudi Sudhakaran

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

STARRED QUESTION NO. : 110

(To be answered on the 27 th  July 2023)

## INTERNATIONAL OPERATIONS FROM KANNUR AIRPORT

## *110. SHRI KUMBAKUDI SUDHAKARAN

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has made specific requests to India carriers to explore the possibility of increasing international operations from Kannur Airport;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has received any response from Indian carriers on its communication regarding international services from Kannur Airport;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether the Government is willing to grant 'point of call' status for Kannur airport if Indian airline companies are not willing to accede to the Government's request of increasing international operations;
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) whether the Government is committed towards encouraging international operations at Kannur Airport and if so, the steps taken in this regard?

## ANSWER

(Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia)

- (a) to (g): A statement is laid on the table of the house.
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Statement referred in reply to Lok Sabha Starred Question 110 regarding "International  Operations  from  Kannur  Airport"  to  be  answered  on

27.07.2023. (a) and(b) Yes Sir. The Ministry of Civil Aviation vide email dated 28.02.2023 had requested all the Indian carriers to examine the traffic potential for international operations from Kannur airport and furnish their comments. (c) and (d) The government has received  responses from the Indian carriers stating that their operational plans are based on commercial considerations, availability of aircraft and viability of routes. (e) to (g) Kannur Airport was operationalized on 09.12.2018. In 2018-2019, there were 577 international flight movements from the airport which increased  to  5385  flight  movements  in  2019-2020  and  further  to  6215 international flight movements in 2022-23 (showing a 977% increase as compared to 2018-19 and a 15% increase as compared to 2019-20), indicating that the international traffic is growing continuously at Kannur Airport. International  flight  operations  are  governed  by  bilateral  Air  Services Agreement (ASA) between India and the respective countries. Currently, due to significant imbalance in the number of points of call in favour of foreign carriers, the Government of India does not grant any non-metro airport as a new point of call to any foreign carrier. However, in accordance with ASA, Indian  designated  carriers  are  free  to  mount  operations  to/from  any international airport including Kannur to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits. However, start of international flight from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of the airlines on the basis of economic viability of the route and other associated factors.

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