: Airport Authority of India today decided to request airlines to operate bigger size aircraft for benefit of passengers to Gulf countries who come to this city and other north Kerala districts on vacation.
The decision was taken at AAIs advisory committee meeting here today under its chairman, E Ahammed, MP.
The meeting said operations of wide bodied aircraft have been banned at Kariput international airport due to the ongoing recarpetting and restrengthening work.
It also decided to request Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to convene a meeting of all stakeholders to speed up the airport expansion project.
As people residing on land to be acquired needed proper rehabilitation before handing it over, a package plan for the purpose could be evaluated under the CM's leadership, it said.
Later, AAI officials told reporters that a total area of 405 acres are needed for the expansion - 248 acres for runway expansion, 137 acres for terminal building and 20 acres for rehabilitation of people.
E T Muhammed Basheer, MP, who is also a member of the Advisory Committee and Airport Director Janardhanan, besides others, attended the meeting.
