Surat airport which had recently been accorded the international status has been given permission to operate 24x7. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has given the airport permission to operate round the clock and the headquarters is in the process to recruit staff and set up immigration and customs counters at the terminal.
Last month, the central government had notified the airport as customs airport. As per the notification, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs had notified Surat airport as customs airport through its notification under section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962 issued on June 8.
Confirming the same, Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, AAI said, “For summer schedule, we considered four airports including Patna, Guwahati and two others for 24x7. For winter schedule, few more airports are considered including Surat. Making an airport 24x7 operational is a heavy expenditure and despite knowing that Surat has been a loss making airport, we understand the potential of Surat in the South East Asia and which is why we have given permission so that first international flight can commence from October onwards. October 1 onwards, the airport will be 24x7.”
“The airport at present operates in two shifts from morning 6.00 am to 11.00 pm in the night. It remains shut for nearly eight hours every day. For international flights, the airport needs to be operational in the night. If we get the permission, it will give a boost to Suratians to travel abroad”, said Sanjay Ezhava, President ofSurat Airport Action Committee.
Commenting about the airlines, Mohapatra said, “As of now only Air India Express has shown interest to start a flight to Sharjah from Surat from October onwards. We would be happy if more airlines also come to us with their proposal.”
