Air India Express has finally put Surat on the international air map. Surat residents have a reason to rejoice with the airline starting its first flight to Sharjah from Saturday. The non-stop flight to Sharjah is scheduled to depart from Surat at 12:30am six days a week and arrive at Sharjah at 2:15am.
Surat residents have been fighting to get international connectivity for many years now. In June last year, the airport was accorded international status and was given permission to operate 24x7. A month ago, the central government had notified the airport as a customs airport. As per the notification, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs had notified Surat airport as a customs airport through its notification under Section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962, issued on June 8.
The international airport is touted to bring immense growth to the city, which is a hub for diamond merchants, traders, businessmen and industrialists.
Last year, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had ordered the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) to conduct a joint survey of the illegal high-rise buildings at Surat Airport. The structures, which fall under the funnel area, pose a threat to flights at the aircraft approach area of the airport during landing and take-off.