Kozhikode airport holds immense potential: Former AAI director board member

Kozhikode: Intense development of Kozhikode Airport presents immense potential, including in the tourism sector, observed P S Nair, Aviation Adviser of the prominent airport development company GMR and former Director Board member of the Airports Authority of India.

In a special interview with Malayala Manorama, he suggested that a company with expertise in aero park development be made a strategic partner to improve the revenue of Kannur Airport.

Puthalathu Sukumaran Nair, a native of Cherukulam in Kozhikode, had in the past served as the Director of Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, and Delhi airports. He has received accolades for introducing new reforms and the design of the new terminal at Thiruvananthapuram Airport, and for presiding over the efficient construction of the third terminal at Delhi Airport.

To the question as to what the growth potentials of Kozhikode and Kannur Airports are and whether receiving point-of-call status will affect Kannur Airport’s potential, he says that it is ideal to develop both these airports with private participation. "Operation rights should be auctioned. Necessary changes should be brought about in the operation of both airports. Kannur Airport has a lot of land at its disposal for future development. Making a company with expertise in aero park development a strategic partner is one solution," he said.

Regarding other airport projects in Kerala, especially the one planned at Sabarimala, he of the opinion that an airport should not be set up targeting Sabarimala devotees alone. "The airport should serve the interests of various categories of passengers. Only then can it survive," he said and added that proposals for airstrips and helicopter services in Wayanad and Kasaragod are all good and that players capable of running them profitably should be found.

According to him private participation is inevitable. If completely in the government sector, there will be more restrictions. Investments will be low. The government should not intervene in day-to-day operations. However, the government should monitor and control. The CIAL model of making public shareholders is also ideal, he said. For him airports Authority constructing airports and handing them over to big companies for operations, and private parties setting up airports are all welcome.

However he discourages the idea of airlines becoming owners and operators of airports. "When airline companies invest to run airports with operational control, vested interests will emerge. That will pre-empt healthy competition. At present, airline companies can only make up to 10% investments in airports," Nair said.