Despite high demand, Centre rejects Saudi’s plea to operate flights to Kerala’s Thiruvananthapuram airport

Amid the burgeoning demand for seats, especially during festival seasons, the Centre has rejected the Saudi Arabia government’s request to grant Point of Call (POC) status to the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport, which would have enabled Saudi airlines to operate flights between various cities in Saudi Arabia and Thiruvananthapuram.

In reply to a question in Parliament, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol admitted that the Centre had received a request from the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to designate Thiruvananthapuram as a Point of Call under the existing India-Saudi Arabia Air Services Agreement (ASA).

However, the Centre has decided not to entertain the Saudi request. According to the Minister, the Union government is currently promoting international operations from non-metro airports, including Thiruvananthapuram, by Indian carriers, either directly or through their domestic operations. Accordingly, non-metro airports are not being granted new Point of Call status under ASAs to foreign carriers, including Saudi airlines.

At present, only Air India Express operates flights between Thiruvananthapuram and Dammam, with seven services a week. No other foreign airline operates on the Thiruvananthapuram-Saudi routes. Earlier, a Saudi airline operated a service between Thiruvananthapuram and Riyadh, but the service was discontinued after the airport was removed from the list of Points of Call, said airport sources.

With the Centre rejecting the Saudi proposal, only Indian carriers will be able to operate on the route, subject to mutually agreed capacity limits, despite heavy demand for seats during festival seasons like Onam. Granting Point of Call status allows foreign airlines to operate services to a designated airport based on passenger demand on specified routes.

Kannur airport denied ASEAN Open Sky status

The Kannur International Airport is another airport in Kerala where foreign airlines have been unable to operate after the Centre declined to grant POC status. Most recently, the representations submitted to the Centre seeking to designate the Kannur airport as a ‘tourist destination’ under the ASEAN Open Sky Policy, which would allow foreign carriers to operate services there, was also turned down by the Centre.

Soon after the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) had also approached the Centre seeking an additional 50,000 seats for Dubai, citing heavy demand on the route. However, no major decision was taken in favour of foreign airlines despite the demand.

International airline operations are governed by bilateral ASAs between India and the respective countries. Under the existing ASAs, Indian designated carriers are free to operate to and from any point in India, including airports in Kerala, to foreign destinations, subject to mutually agreed capacity limits. However, foreign airlines require Point of Call status or other permissions to operate services to designated airports in India.