CALICUT — Calicut (Karipur) International Airport in Kerala plays a significant role in facilitating transport of thousands of Indian expats working in Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries as well as their families. It also offers direct flights to the Kingdom for Muslim pilgrims who want to perform Haj and Umrah. But the airport authority's decision to deny landing permission to wide-bodied aircraft since May 1, 2015 to recarpet the runway has forced many international airlines such as Saudia, Emirates and Air India to close their offices in Karipur and move to the private airport in Nedumbassery (Kochi). The recarpeting work has been completed but the authority is now saying the ban on big aircraft would continue until the runway is expanded further, acquiring 238 acres of land. Expatriate workers and other beneficiaries have expressed their deep concern over the move and believe it is part of a foul-play. "This move aims at clipping the wings of Karipur airport, which serves more than two million expats and their families," said Ibrahim Moin, who has been working in Jeddah for 30 years. "UDF and LDF alliances have colluded with business leaders to weaken Karipur by forcing major airlines to shift their operations to the private airports in Kochi and Kannur," he said. Karipur, which was 12th busiest airport in India in terms of passenger turnout, has suffered 30 percent loss as a result of the shifting of airlines such as Saudia, Emirates and Air India to Kochi since May 2015. Now its position is 21, according to a report published by the Airport Authority of India (AAI). Khaled Almaeena, editor at large of Saudi Gazette and managing partner of Quartz Communication, explained the difficulties he had to face because of the shifting of Saudia flights from Karipur to Kochi following the ban on big aircraft. "Many Saudis and Gulf citizens have told me about the problems created by the stoppage of big aircraft to Karipur," he added. Almaeena emphasized the need to strengthen Karipur airport by attracting major airlines in order to woo Gulf tourists and businessmen to the Malabar region. "I have noticed considerable decrease in the number of Calicut-bound Gulf tourists following the stoppage of flights operated by Saudia and Emirates to Karipur," said Almaeena, a regular visitor to the state. Many Saudis and Gulf citizens wanted to visit Kerala for Ayurvedic medical treatment and tourism and Karipur is a major gateway for them. The denial of landing rights for Boeing 777 and 747 flights in Karipur has caused untold miseries to many expatriates and their families. Mohammed Ashraf, an IT engineer who lives in Kondotty near Karipur and works in Saudi Arabia, said the stoppage of big aircraft caused a nightmarish situation for him and his five-member family. Instead of catching the flight from Karipur, just 10 minutes away from home, they had to travel by bus to Kochi, which is 155 km away, to catch the Saudia flight to Jeddah. "We had to get up at 2 a.m. and avail the service of two taxis — one loaded with 12 pieces of baggage and another with his family members — to catch the bus to Kochi airport from Malappuram at 4.30 a.m. It was really a nightmare that I will never forget in my life," Ashraf told Saudi Gazette. This is not the issue of Ashraf alone. It's the daily problem of the majority of Keralite expatriate workers in Saudi Arabia and other GCC states. E.T. Mohammed Bashir, a Muslim League MP, recently raised the issue at the Parliament in New Delhi and urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to resume Boeing 777 and 747 flights to Karipur. Welfare Party of India has taken up the issue during the ongoing Kerala Legislative Assembly election campaign, criticizing the lukewarm attitude of the local and central governments toward Karipur airport. "We'll not allow anybody to restrain Karipur's growth, deceiving millions of people who have toiled for its establishment in 1988," said Saleem Wazhakkad, a WPI candidate from Kondotty constituency, adding that his party would mobilize popular support to restore Karipur's glory and enhance welfare of expats. He opposed the move to acquire more land for the airport. "There are more than 100 acres of unused land. If they take more land it would affect the area's ecological balance," he said referring to a report issued by the Geological Survey. "Unnecessary acquisition of land in nearby villages is a human rights violation and will cause an environmental catastrophe." Saleem lambasted UDF and LDF alliances for their anti-Karipur conspiracy to widen prospects of Kochi and Kannur airports. "We'll expose these politicians including Congress, Muslim League and Communist leaders for cheating the beneficiaries of Karipur, mostly expats and pilgrims." Meher Mansoor, a social worker, said jumbo aircraft of Air India, Saudia, Emirates and Sri Lankan were landing in Karipur during the past 15 years without any problem. "Now the airport authority is saying they wanted to expand the runway to operate such flights. This is ridiculous and unacceptable," he said. Mansoor said major airlines such as Saudia, Air India and Emirates have expressed their willingness to resume flights to Karipur. "There was a hidden agenda to gradually close the airport. The re-carpeting, which usually take three months, has taken more than a year. They have shifted Haj operation from Karipur to Kochi and allowed wedding ceremonies at the Haj house in Karipur." Abdullah Maliyekkal, secretary of Calicut Chamber of Commerce, said his organization would launch a social media campaign in support of the demand for expanding Karipur airport. "Our major demand is the runway expansion that will enable return of wide-bodied aircraft," he said. A well-informed source, who requested anonymity, questioned the airport authority's insistence on runway expansion to allow wide-bodied aircraft. "The authority has given landing permission for such planes during the past 15 years. The new decision was taken to support business interests in Kochi and Kannur airports. Shares of Kannur airport were reportedly sold out after authorities stopped landing of big aircraft in Karipur on May 1, 2015, he said. He called for a massive popular rally to empower Karipur. "We should also counter the airport authority's misinformation campaign," he added. Since seats have reduced on Karipur bound aircraft by 40 percent, their ticket prices have gone up. He also disclosed plans to privatize Karipur. "The present situation would force people to welcome the privatization move."
