2024-01-29 13:40:35
Talking about the increase in Hajj flight fares at Kozhikode Airport, A.P. M.K said that the sarcasm from Abdullahkutty’s side was not correct and there was a need for a solution. Raghavan M.P. Central Haj Committee Chairman A.P Abdullahkutty’s sarcasm was noticed saying that if he brings his own plane, he can provide the service at a low rate and cannot interfere in the matter.
His reply and approach to the matter shows a totally irresponsible attitude which should not come from a person in an important position. This is a cruel mockery against more than twenty thousand Hajis in Kerala who are preparing for Hajj and M.K. Raghavan MP said in a post on Facebook.
In the full form of the note
Solution is needed, not ridicule…
Chairman of the Central Hajj Committee Shri. AP Abdullahkutty’s sarcasm caught the attention.
His reply and approach to the matter shows a totally irresponsible attitude which should not come from a person in an important position. This is a cruel mockery against the more than twenty thousand Hajis in Kerala who are preparing for Hajj.
He reiterated that the rate was determined by the global tender and that he could not interfere in the matter. It was also noticed that he was mocking that he should come by plane from Qatar. Had the Honorable Hajj Committee Chairman read the first lines of the Hajj Flight Operation Tender Notice, he would not have made such a mockery. How sad that he doesn’t even know that this is not a global tender? Only a few airlines in India and Saudi Arabia can participate in the tender. The chairman is actually making a mockery of himself here who is not even aware of what is going on under his own responsibility.
Honorable Chairman, solution is needed here. Don’t look at everything through the lens of technology. Central and State Hajj Committees should not be a mere technical mechanism. The Hajj Committees, which are part of the government, should give importance to the welfare of the Hajj pilgrims and their smooth conduct.
Here the amount quoted in the Air India Express tender for Hajj operation from Kozhikode airport is unjustifiably high by any standard of commercial civil aviation. Moreover, Saudi Airlines has quoted a lower rate of Rs. 75000/- from the two airports in the vicinity of Kerala itself in the tender. Kozhikode is Rs.164329.62/- Kochi is Rs.89188.51/- Kannur is Rs.88772.91/- as the air fare from the related centers. The claim that the huge difference in fares is due to the use of small aircraft from Kozhikode and large aircraft from Kochi and Kannur for Hajj operations is untrue. Last year there was a higher amount from Kochi, which was served by large flights, than Kozhikode, which was served by small flights. In this situation, those who are in a responsible position should see this as a social problem and try to find a solution on the side of the pilgrims.
Air India Express is the only profitable airline operating in India today. The main reason for this is the fact that Kozhikode is the center of most Express services. The company’s exploitative policy towards the people of Malabar who support the airline in the matter of Hajj cannot be covered up with indifferent technical answers.
The solution is very easy
The issue can be resolved by resuming the major flight services at the Kozhikode airport immediately, or re-tendering involving more Indian and Saudi airlines for the Hajj operation from Kozhikode. For this, the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Minorities, the Central Hajj Committee and the State Hajj Committee should be prepared.
The only real solution to the many problems faced by the airport, including Hajj, is to restore the services of large aircraft at the Kozhikode airport. If permission is given for large air services, more airlines including Saudi Airlines can participate in the tender. This will prevent uncontrolled rate hikes and rate gouging.
Since 2015, the service of large aircrafts, which were running during the UPA and UDF central state administrations, has been blocked by the central government many times citing completely unfair reasons. The Central Aviation Ministry’s approach to blocking the major air service of Kozhikode following the intervention of some private airport spokespersons in Kerala by covering up the 2020 plane crash, which the Bureau of Investigation stated as ‘human error’, is unjustifiable.
After the plane crash, all the safety measures including runway re-carpeting, center line lighting, touch down zone lighting and runway visual range (RVR) have been implemented at the Kozhikode Airport. The steps for the construction of the resa are now in progress. The central government’s position that large aircraft will be allowed only after completion of the construction of the Reza is a bad idea. Despite repeated demands and meeting the minister in person, the Center’s wrong approach in this regard is creating a crisis for the airport today.
Kozhikode airport has been operating major flights following all norms of DGCA and ICAO. After the plane crash, in January 2021, world-class airlines such as Saudi Airlines, Air India, Qatar Airways and Emirates have expressed their readiness to operate large flights again and have completed all safety checks. While the airline companies will not fail in the matter of safety, Kozhikode’s major air services are denied permission only for private airports.
The compatibility report prepared earlier at the Kozhikode airport ahead of major flights was later accepted by the Airports Authority of India as a model compatibility report for operating the Prime Minister’s ultra-safe wide-body aircraft Boeing 777 at 16 small airports in the country. What kind of security does the Prime Minister’s plane lack?
These issues will be raised again in the coming parliamentary session. The next day Union Minister Smt. Smriti Irani, Mr. Jyotiraditya Scindia and will be seen in person. A concerted agitation will be led until a solution is found.
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