The demand for reducing the State’s tax on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for flights operating from the Calicut international airport at Karipur has increased with more people’s representatives joining hands with the Malabar Development Forum (MDF).
In a request made to the State government, Lok Sabha member from Kerala representing the Anglo-Indians Richard Hay asked Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to slash the ATF tax for Karipur like the government did it for the Kannur international airport.
Prof. Hay said that reduction of ATF tax would attract several airlines to operate from Karipur, a public sector airport that caters largely to Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. He said the Union Ministry of Aviation had supported Karipur in its development.
The State government, he said, too should come forward to support Karipur.
The MDF, meanwhile, has decided to launch an agitation from Friday demanding that the governments stop its neglect towards Karipur.
A meeting of the MDF to be held at Kozhikode on Friday will give shape to its protest plans. “We have been demanding wider connectivity from Karipur by permitting more airlines to operate from there. Karipur has great potential for increased connectivity to the Far East. Airlines such as Air Asia and Sri Lankan Airlines have evinced interest. With Karipur proven fit for wide-body aircraft, the airport has immense potential for several airlines,” said K.M. Basheer, president of the Malabar Development Forum.
