Thiruvananthapuram – Kerala has extended a helping hand to Sri Lanka, which is struggling due to the fuel crisis. As the crisis worsened, the Adani Group-owned Thiruvananthapuram Airport and the SIAL-owned Kochi Airport provided refueling facilities for flights from Sri Lanka.
The airport authorities stated that more than ninety flights from Sri Lanka have refueled from Thiruvananthapuram in the last one and a half months. 60 planes of Sri Lankan Airlines and planes of other countries were refueled from Thiruvananthapuram. One lakh rupees is charged only for landing the plane. Crew change facility is also provided. Passengers cannot exit the aircraft. On an average, flights are allowed for one hour. Most Sri Lankan Airlines flights arrive at night for refuelling. The airport authorities stated that on an average at least three planes arrive for refueling a day.
Large aircraft from Sri Lanka mainly go to Sydney, Melbourne, Paris and Frankfurt in Australia following refuelling. Airlines such as Oman Air, Sharjah’s Air Arabia, Bahrain’s Gulf Air and Fly Dubai rely on Thiruvananthapuram airport. Flights arriving in Sri Lanka from the Gulf region reach Thiruvananthapuram and then return to the Gulf region following refueling. Officials said that 33 planes have arrived at Kochi airport for refueling so far. Companies like Sri Lankan Airlines, Air Arabia and Etihad are using the facility. The state government has reduced the tax rate on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) for international airlines, which is also attracting airlines here.
Experts in the aviation sector say that Kerala is more likely to become a hub for refueling planes. This will only become a reality depending on how the airport operators and the government proceed. Experts say that Thiruvananthapuram airport is more likely. An important international route connecting Singapore with the Gulf region (Alpha 330) passes through Thiruvananthapuram. Many flights ply through it daily. The planes are controlled by the Thiruvananthapuram radar. Experts said that many airports in the world are earning huge income by providing technical landing facilities.
English Summary: Lankan flights refuelling at Kerala airports