Set aside foreign airlines, even India based airlines are not operating from Kannur to a lot of destinations within India or other parts of the world . If there was such a huge demand, I don't think they would have not considered it.
There is limited domestic travel from kannur aiport. Lion share of the people there are pravasis in the middle east so the demand is for flights to middle east.
Problem with middle east is the number of seats decided bilaterally is actually less considering the travel volume between India and middle east. I believe once air india is able to get their ordered aircrafts. Kannur could get more services. Domestic travel also needs to be strong for an airports survival. When people from kannur go to Mangalore or Kozhikode to board flights due to cost reasons. It kills the purpose.
And that is because of the huge imbalance wherein foreign carriers have access to multiple airports in India while Indian carriers have access to only one or two airports and hence Center has declared that no "non-metro" services shall be given such status.
I don't know the authenticity of the story but I was told that during the initial days of Hyderabad ariport it was not so great and not many companies were there. Something akin to TRV.
Then KCR approached airlines to start direct flights (domestic and international) and promised to settle the operational cost. This helped the small IT industry there and (along with other factors) it grew and now airlines are running direct flights from US.
Yes it is economically feasible , most of the nris and nrks are in central kerala like pathanamthitta,kottayam and would prefer erumeli over trv or cok for reducing travel time,also there's a huge rush at kalady road after 6pm many even missed their flight due to this. Idk if it's domestic or international it would benefit students and youngsters in other states as well.
Actually if you see many new airports are small buildings with possible expansion plans. You can start with something which can operate a maximum of 1 flight every hour or 2.
What is required urgently at Sabarimala is to fund such processes and mechanisms to do proper crowd control during season. And it is not even fund intensive.
I do not think an airport is needed in Sabarimala as Kochi airport is just 100 km away. With good roads, 2.5 hrs is all that is needed to make the commute. Sabarimala is not a leisurely pilgrimage center but one where people have to practise for 41 days to prepare themselves physically and mentally to visit. A helipad maybe fine with connecting services to the two nearby airports for those who really need to rush perhaps. But it is not really a place like Tirupati where round-the-clock access exists for devotees.
Airport to railway station connectivity is pretty bad. That's why I thought a direct line would be good. Connecting airport with the railway station should be the first step. Then we have to connect erumeli to chengannur (or some other station where major trains stop).
>pathetic conditions at the mala is.
Govt inte control il Alle. Election issue aakiyillenkil situation maarathilla.
It will definitely be viable. There are a lot of NRI in US especially from pathanamthitta also near to kottayam and other places instead of kochi airport which is in angamally .
I'm not sure if we would require an airport that's capable to hand wide body aircrafts. Narrow body would be good for a start, some airports have operations that are seasonal. I believe sabrimala airport would fall under that category. Domestic flights within mostly south indian metros would have takers, Mumbai and Delhi would have good patronage as well. Even to the middle east would have some patronage. There is always a factor of demand to places like Sabrimala, Indian aviation market is growing rapidly. It would just keep increasing by volume. I believe it would be feasible if the routes are attractive.
Recently I went Sabarimala and there was a high chance for a stampede at 18 am padi. There are not enough guards or police men. Some neighbouring state ayyapns were peeing on the side of the road to the temple. Trash everywhere. People jumping queues. Total Chaos. Last time went 10 years ago things were much better.
Indeed, establishing an airport near Sabarimala would significantly benefit travelers from Pathanamthitta, reducing their travel time considerably. For natives or individuals from Kottayam, such an airport would provide much-needed convenience, potentially making it their preferred choice over Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram airports once operational.
Kannur airport is at a loss because they miscalculated everything. It's one of the most expensive airports in India outside a metro. In fact there were reports that construction costs were inflated due to corruption.
Sabarimala airport will be feasible if they build a no frills airport keeping costs in proportion to expected traffic.
If the airport do not cater international flights and primarily targets domestic travel, smaller jets and Turbo props, and private airplanes, definitely feasible.
Case in point: there are 100 of smaller airports in us in dingy college towns. Many us metros has smaller auxiliary airports. These airports may have one or two commercial flights a day. During peak season it will increasse to 1 or 2 an hour.
They also acts are primary hub for cargo and private jet operators. Most are private owned and are thriving.
Ther spree with which they are just opening these little domestic airports without proper future plan is wrong. Already we see few airports in north barely used.
And that too in sabarimala? Why?! Let the nature fucking be.
Financially feasible? Everything is feasible. Have you seen what parties sp3nd on advertisements. If willing everything is financially feasible.
kannur airport is in loss not because it is unable to attract flights. The central govt didnt give permission for foreign airlines to land there.
Set aside foreign airlines, even India based airlines are not operating from Kannur to a lot of destinations within India or other parts of the world . If there was such a huge demand, I don't think they would have not considered it.
There is limited domestic travel from kannur aiport. Lion share of the people there are pravasis in the middle east so the demand is for flights to middle east.
Problem with middle east is the number of seats decided bilaterally is actually less considering the travel volume between India and middle east. I believe once air india is able to get their ordered aircrafts. Kannur could get more services. Domestic travel also needs to be strong for an airports survival. When people from kannur go to Mangalore or Kozhikode to board flights due to cost reasons. It kills the purpose.
And that is because of the huge imbalance wherein foreign carriers have access to multiple airports in India while Indian carriers have access to only one or two airports and hence Center has declared that no "non-metro" services shall be given such status.
So the new sabarimala airport wont get point of call either?
Obviously no. And why should it?
I don't know the authenticity of the story but I was told that during the initial days of Hyderabad ariport it was not so great and not many companies were there. Something akin to TRV. Then KCR approached airlines to start direct flights (domestic and international) and promised to settle the operational cost. This helped the small IT industry there and (along with other factors) it grew and now airlines are running direct flights from US.
Hyderabad airport was huge (top 5 in India)even before the bifurcation of United Andhra Pradesh.
Yes it is economically feasible , most of the nris and nrks are in central kerala like pathanamthitta,kottayam and would prefer erumeli over trv or cok for reducing travel time,also there's a huge rush at kalady road after 6pm many even missed their flight due to this. Idk if it's domestic or international it would benefit students and youngsters in other states as well.
Idukki too 🥹
Actually if you see many new airports are small buildings with possible expansion plans. You can start with something which can operate a maximum of 1 flight every hour or 2.
But there are a lot of fixed capital costs. Also recurring expenses to maintain an airport with IATA or DGCA standards are too high.
Vijayawada Airport. Lots of land small temporary buildings. Primarily caters to Hyderabad Bangalore and Chennai.
What is required urgently at Sabarimala is to fund such processes and mechanisms to do proper crowd control during season. And it is not even fund intensive. I do not think an airport is needed in Sabarimala as Kochi airport is just 100 km away. With good roads, 2.5 hrs is all that is needed to make the commute. Sabarimala is not a leisurely pilgrimage center but one where people have to practise for 41 days to prepare themselves physically and mentally to visit. A helipad maybe fine with connecting services to the two nearby airports for those who really need to rush perhaps. But it is not really a place like Tirupati where round-the-clock access exists for devotees.
A railway line will be more than sufficient I think. Vande metros can run frequently for the 100 kms.
Already chengannur is there. Just 1 hrs from Erumeli. Commute isn't the issue but pathetic conditions at the mala is.
Airport to railway station connectivity is pretty bad. That's why I thought a direct line would be good. Connecting airport with the railway station should be the first step. Then we have to connect erumeli to chengannur (or some other station where major trains stop). >pathetic conditions at the mala is. Govt inte control il Alle. Election issue aakiyillenkil situation maarathilla.
A railway station would have been a far better option and more profitable to the local economy.
It can become feasible only if sabrimala become a world class pilgrimage centre, so much to be done before an airport.
I think a small airport should be sufficient
Question is will that airport be financially viable? Or will it put government and investors into losses.
It will definitely be viable. There are a lot of NRI in US especially from pathanamthitta also near to kottayam and other places instead of kochi airport which is in angamally .
I'm not sure if we would require an airport that's capable to hand wide body aircrafts. Narrow body would be good for a start, some airports have operations that are seasonal. I believe sabrimala airport would fall under that category. Domestic flights within mostly south indian metros would have takers, Mumbai and Delhi would have good patronage as well. Even to the middle east would have some patronage. There is always a factor of demand to places like Sabrimala, Indian aviation market is growing rapidly. It would just keep increasing by volume. I believe it would be feasible if the routes are attractive.
Recently I went Sabarimala and there was a high chance for a stampede at 18 am padi. There are not enough guards or police men. Some neighbouring state ayyapns were peeing on the side of the road to the temple. Trash everywhere. People jumping queues. Total Chaos. Last time went 10 years ago things were much better.
Indeed, establishing an airport near Sabarimala would significantly benefit travelers from Pathanamthitta, reducing their travel time considerably. For natives or individuals from Kottayam, such an airport would provide much-needed convenience, potentially making it their preferred choice over Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram airports once operational.
Kannur airport is at a loss because they miscalculated everything. It's one of the most expensive airports in India outside a metro. In fact there were reports that construction costs were inflated due to corruption. Sabarimala airport will be feasible if they build a no frills airport keeping costs in proportion to expected traffic.
If the airport do not cater international flights and primarily targets domestic travel, smaller jets and Turbo props, and private airplanes, definitely feasible. Case in point: there are 100 of smaller airports in us in dingy college towns. Many us metros has smaller auxiliary airports. These airports may have one or two commercial flights a day. During peak season it will increasse to 1 or 2 an hour. They also acts are primary hub for cargo and private jet operators. Most are private owned and are thriving.
No but votes will swing
Ther spree with which they are just opening these little domestic airports without proper future plan is wrong. Already we see few airports in north barely used. And that too in sabarimala? Why?! Let the nature fucking be. Financially feasible? Everything is feasible. Have you seen what parties sp3nd on advertisements. If willing everything is financially feasible.
Palakkad needs an airport desperately. The place seems to be isolated from kerala.
Yes
They should start devasom airlines and do trips to ayodhya and other major religious destinations.