Kannur airport passes the final test to get 'aerodrome licence'

Kannur: The Kannur international airport has received aerodrome licence to start commercial flight operations of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

The licence, the mandatory document required for commercial operations to start, was signed by DGCA B.S. Bhullar and was handed over to Kannur International Airport Ltd (KIAL) in New Delhi on Thursday.

The licence was issued by the DGCA on being assigned with the responsibility of licensing and regulations of aerodromes in the country in accordance with the regulatory provisions contained in the Aircraft Rules 1937. The Aerodrome Standards Directorate in the DGCA is entrusted with the responsibilities of licensing.

With this the airport can now allow any flight for private purposes any time. However, Airport Authority of India (AAI) authorities informed that a decision about commercial flights will be taken only after 6 December. The authority has informed KIAL that the Aeranautical Information Publications entry for Kannur airport, approved by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) will come into effect only on 6 December. Already, the establishment of the Kannur control area and the aerodrome data of Kannur airport have been published.

KIAL sources informed that with the obtaining of aerodrome licene, airlines' flight schedules will be prepared within a week. As many as 11 international airlines and six domestic airlines have expressed interest to operate to Kannur. Indian carriers who have been given the nod by the Civil Aviation Ministry to operate international flights are Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo and GoAir.

The date of commissioning of the airport, also close to the home constituency of on the Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, is expected to be announced soon.