Airports Authority of India plans helicopter services to tourist spots in Tamil Nadu

M. Suresh, Airports Authority of India Chairman
| Photo Credit: ASHOK R

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to introduce helicopter services from Madurai to help passengers travel quickly to important tourist spots and pilgrimage centres in southern districts, AAI Chairman M. Suresh has said.

Mr. Suresh, who was in Madurai on Tuesday to declare its airport operational 24×7, told The Hindu that Madurai had immense potential to attract pilgrims and tourists from far-off cities.

Madurai, which is already well-connected with Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru, is expected to get more domestic flights to cities such as Varanasi, Pune, Goa, and Kolkata.

“Even if these flights are operated two or three days a week initially, it will help people from northern States to plan short trips, especially to pilgrimage spots,” Mr. Suresh said.

The availability of helicopter services would further help tourists and pilgrims to quickly reach places like Kodaikanal, Kanniyakumari, and Courtallam, he added.

Simultaneously, efforts would be made to introduce seaplane services, he said.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu had released new guidelines for operation of seaplanes for quicker transport and stimulating economic development, he said. “We are trying to connect the coastal cities like Chennai and Puducherry to promote tourism. We can extend the services up to Rameswaram,” he added.

He said seaplanes with 12 seats or 18 seats could be operated. The entire eastern coast could witness an increase in tourism. The two services would help tourists move around quickly and save time, he said.