The State government’s new initiatives for a greenfield airport at Erumeli has surprised many in the aviation sector.
For, they feel that the State’s urgent requirement is a string of airstrips or two-tier airports capable of ferrying passengers and tourists across the length and breadth of the State.
Kerala is the only Indian state having four international airports in a small radius.
Experts opine that rather than benefiting the aviation sector even slightly, setting up another international airport in a nondescript region will, to some extend, badly affect the performance of existing airports in the State.
Speaking to ‘Express’, a senior official attached to the Kochi-headquartered Air India Express, the low-cost arm of Air India, said Erumeli was a town that came to life for around 68 days a year, when the Sabarimala pilgrim season began.
“An airstrip or a small domestic airport capable of handling smaller aircrafts is enough to cater to the needs of Sabarimala pilgrims,” he stated. Cameron Johnston Jersey