Emirates may have to wait till the Indian national election process is completed before a decision on its plans to commence direct flights to Kerala’s Calicut International Airport is taken by the civil aviation regulator.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is expected to make a decision on Calicut International Airport’s request to issue no-objection certificate (NoC) for Emirates for its proposed operation to Calicut only after the election related model code conduct is lifted, sources told Arabian Business.
Authorities at the Calicut airport, through its parent body Airport Authority of India (AAI) submitted the request towards the end of March.
The request followed the visit of a high level delegation from Emirates to the Calicut airport in early March, when a formal inspection of the airport was carried out and discussions took place with the airport authorities on its proposed plans to operate to the airport.
Should Emirates prove successful, it would be the airline’s third destination in Kerala, following Kochi and Thiruvanthapuram.
“Our request to DGCA for NoC to Emirates for commencing operations to Calicut airport is still in the process,” the airport director at Calicut International airport told Arabian Business.
An Emirates spokesperson added: “Official announcement, if any, will be made at an appropriate time.
“Emirates is always reviewing market opportunities both in India and globally. We do not comment on speculation.”
In addition to Kochi and Thiruvanthapuram, Emirates also serves Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Chennai in southern India with multiple daily flights.
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