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Thiruvananthapuram airport to function round-the-clock

D Jose in Thiruvananthapuram

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has issued orders to begin round-the-clock operations at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport.

This was disclosed by Kerala Legislative Assembly Speaker M Vijayakumar in a statement on Tuesday. The statement claimed that the additional staff required for the 24-hour facility has been posted already.

Airport director V R Veermani confirmed that he has received an order sanctioning additional staff for 24-hour operations at the airport. The airport authority would need over 50 officials to handle operations during the night.

He said that it would take him at least one week to position the staff and ready the airport for 24-hour functioning. However, he said this would be possible only when other agencies like customs and immigration position their staff for additional duty.

However, Veermani said that he had not received any proposal from airlines to shift some of their flights during the night. He said he would talk to various airlines' representatives soon.

While Kuwait Airways and Silk Air have evinced interest in night flights, Oman Airways has sought permission for operating additional flights.

If the airline gets the nod, it would operate these flights in the night. Gulf Air has also applied for introducing its flights in the Trivandrum-Gulf sector.

Air-India is also considering shifting some of its flights to the night. An Air-India team had inspected the airport and is said to be satisfied with the facilities available there.

Travel trade sources said that round-the-clock operations at the airport would brighten the chances of introducing more international flights and restoration of several flights diverted from Thiruvananthapuram to other airports.

Vijayakumar thanked the Civil Aviation Minister Sharad Yadav for ratifying the long-standing demand of the people.

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Business

Kerala