MALAPPURAM: International flights with wide-bodied aircraft will soon resume from Calicut International Airport at Karippur, according to Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) general secretary PK Kunhalikutty MP, who last week held discussions with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in this regard.

“Services using wide-bodied aircraft will commence within two weeks from Calicut airport. This was confirmed during our discussions with Director General of Civil Aviation BS Bullar. Karippur would regain its lost glory once larger flights resumed operations from there,” Kunhalikutty, who represents Malappuram parliamentary constituency, said.

Services of wide-bodied aircraft have been suspended since 1 May 2015 due to expansion work of the runway. However, the authorities later refused to open the airport for big flights on grounds that the runway had not been equipped to handle such flights.

The airport’s advisory council which met recently had authorised Kunhalikutty to follow up the matter regarding the resumption of the suspended service. As part of this, he met the DG of Civil Aviation together with ET Mohammed Basheer MP and PV Abdul Wahab.

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) is also in favour of resuming the service of wide-bodied jets. The necessary facilities on the runway are also in place now. Works are also in final stages for increasing the length of the Runway and Safety Area (RESA) from 90 metres to 240.

Wide-bodied aircraft of various airlines, including Air India, will resume operations from the Karippur airport in two weeks.

A meeting of the Airport Advisory Council held the other day had entrusted Kunhalikutty to take up the matter with the concerned authorities in Delhi. Kunhalikutty said he had discussed the matter with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

The delegation headed by Kunhalikutty, Mohammed Basheer and Abdul Wahab apprised the minister about the difficulties faced by passengers, particularly Saudi-bound people, for their travel to Jeddah/Riyadh in the absence of direct flight services to these destinations. The delegation conveyed to the minister the feelings of the people of Malabar region and requested him to take steps to immediately introduce direct flight service to Jeddah/Riyadh from Calicut airport.