MP seeks more flight services from Madurai airport

Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore, left, with Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu in New Delhi on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: HANDOUT

Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore has appealed to the Union Minister of Civil Aviation Ram Mohan Naidu to make efforts for increasing frequency of domestic flights being operated from and to Madurai airport.

The Congress MP met the Union Minister in New Delhi on Thursday and handed over a petition which also sought introduction of flight services to new domestic destinations. He said the number of flight services to the already served destinations from Madurai such as New Delhi, Hyderabad and Bengaluru would help reduce travel time and improve accessibility for passengers.

Flight services should be introduced to Mumbai, Kolkata and Tirupathi. “These cities are critical for both business and tourism and direct connection will significantly boost connectivity for Madurai,” the MP said.

Mr. Tagore also sought new international flight services to Malaysia, Singapore, the U.A.E. and Saudi Arabia. Since these countries had a sizable population of Indian diaspora, air connectivity to airports there will foster business, trade and tourism, he said.

Pointing to the recent declaration of round-the-clock operation from Madurai airport, Mr. Tagore said increasing demand for air travel required 24X7 operations to accommodate growing tourist traffic and greater convenience for passengers, including those travelling for business and religious purposes.

It would also support the country’s broader goals of promoting cultural tourism and heritage, the petition said.