KANNUR: The Ministry of Civil Aviation has not given permission (point of call status) for foreign airline companies service at the Kannur International Airport stating it is not a metro city. Despite foreign companies showing interest, the Centre's stance obstructs the development of the airport.

KIAL says that the airport, which has an annual loss of Rs 150 crore, will become profitable with the arrival of foreign company flights. If permission is granted, many international flights including from the Gulf will land in Kannur which will benefit people from North Malabar. UK and US passengers from here depend on Nedumbassery airport now.

In 2020, international companies provided services to Kannur during the Vande Bharat mission. International companies such as Kuwait airways, Fly Dubai, Jazeera Airways, SalamAir, Air Arabia, Etihad, Saudia and Oman Air run services that time.

India has agreements with 116 countries giving point of call status (Air Service Agreement) to airports. It does not include Kannur airport. Under the same agreement, Indian airlines operate services to airports abroad. Indian companies have 65 international services from Kannur. The Centre says that non-metro airports are being excluded due to imbalance in provision of point of call to foreign companies.

An all-party group comprising Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and MPs had met the Aviation Minister demanding Point of Call status for Kannur. The government has also demanded that the Open Sky Policy of the ASEAN group to be applied to Kannur airport.

With the privatization of the airports, the companies are hiking ticket fares. Fewer services in Kannur are behind the high rates.

International Service – November

Kannur- 438

Kochi - 1868

Kozhikode -1159

Thiruvananthapuram - 949

Domestic- November

Kannur- 557

Kochi- 2361

Ticket price

Sharjah, Doha Rs.18,000 - Rs.30,000

Kozhikode, Kochi upto Rs 15000