IUML MPs seek more flights to Saudi from Calicut airport

A delegation of IUML MPs led by P K Kunhalikutty today met Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju, seeking his intervention to improve flight services at Calicut International Airport in Kerala.
At the meet held in New Delhi, which saw other MPs including E T Mohammed Basheer and P V Abdul Wahab take part, the Minister was apprised about the difficulties faced by passengers, particularly Saudi-bound people, for their travel to Jeddah/Riyadh in the absence of direct flight services to these destinations.
The delegation conveyed to the Minister the feelings of the people of Malabar region and requested him to take steps to immediately introduce direct flight service to Jeddah/Riyadh from Calicut airport.

"Also, the MPs represented that permission to land wide-bodied aircraft may be given and more services to Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai etc, may be introduced," said a press release issued by IUML here.
They said that even after the completion of runway work, permission had not been given by the DGCA for resumption of operation of wide-bodied aircraft from Calicut airport.
They said the main issue was that public sought a direct flight service from Calicut to Jeddah and Riyadh. Earlier, Saudi Airlines operated flights on this sector.
Emirates and Qatar Airways were also operating connecting flights to Saudi Arabia.

Urging the Central government to introduce AB 320 Neo aircraft from Calicut airport to Jeddah/Riyadh as is done from Kochi/Thiruvananthapuram, the IUML MPs said this would help passengers bound for Saudi comfortably.