Foreign airlines may fly from Kozhikode

The Centre will take a decision on granting permission to more foreign airlines to operate from the airport in Kozhikode in the next two to three months, Union Minister of State for External Affairs, E Ahamed said on Wednesday.

"Civil Aviation Ministry is in the process of working out the feasibility and a final decision on allowing foreign airlines to operate from here will be taken in two to three months," he said.

Ahamed was talking to reporters after inaugurating Jet Airways' maiden flight from Kozhikode to Muscat.

Jet Airways was given the nod to commence services in the Gulf sector from this month as the airline had completed five years of operations in the domestic circuit, he said.

Sri Lankan Airlines is the only foreign airline, which is currently operating services from the Calicut airport. Accusing national carrier Air India of enjoying "monopoly" in the Gulf sector, several organisations, including non-resident Keralite groups, were demanding that more private airlines, including foreign ones, be allowed to operate from here.

Earlier, Jet Airways flight 9W 538 took off at 0930 hrs with 77 passengers onboard. The private airline will also maintain daily flights to Doha from here at 2000 hrs. Jet Airways started its first service from the state to Gulf from Kochi on January 5 launching flights to Kuwait and Bahrain. The airline is also scheduled to begin services to the Gulf from Thiruvananthapuram soon.