Union Government has declined the demand for including Madurai airport as an additional tourism point under bilateral air services agreement with ASEAN countries.
“The Government is not considering any proposition at present to incorporate any new point into the existing list of 18 tourist destinations,” Union Minister of Civil Aviation Rammohan Naidu, said in his reply to Madurai MP, Su. Venkatesan,
The Minister pointed out that currently 18 tourist destinations in India were available as points of call for the designated carriers of ASEAN countries under ASEAN Open Sky Policy. “This was a one-time policy decision.” he said.
In accordance with BASA, Indian designated carriers are free to mount operations to/from any point, including Madurai, to foreign destinations as per mutually agreed capacity limits, while any designated foreign airline can operate to/from a point in India if it is designated as a point of call in the BASA with that country. Currently, Madurai is available as a point of call to the designated carriers of Sri Lanka, Mr. Rammohan said.
The start of direct international flights from any point in India is purely a commercial decision of scheduled airlines on the basis of passenger demand, availability of slots, economic viability of the route and other associated factors. The Government does not interfere in the operational plans of the airlines, the Union Minister said.
However, all Indian carriers having scheduled international operations have been requested to favorably consider mounting operations to ASEAN countries from Madurai, the Minister said.
Reacting to the Union Minister’s rejection, Mr. Venkatesan said that the Union Government’s decisions were against the development of Madurai Airport.
The interest shown by Air Arabia and Fly Dubai to operate international flight services to and from Madurai in 2014-15 could not be translated into action due to non-inclusion of Madurai under BASA, he said.
Inclusion of Khajuraho Airport, which is a domestic airport without international flight services among the 18 tourist destinations under BASA with ASEAN countries would not serve the purpose.
Besides other airports like Port Blair and Aurangabad have not used this agreement for the past 20 years.
Stating that the Union Government’s policy was unfair, he charged that Madurai airport was being neglected by the Government.
Even as not allowing profit-making foreign airlines to operate from Madurai to newer destinations, indefinitely waiting for hesitant domestic players to operate to foreign destination was forcing Madurai Airport into a loss-making terminal.
Mr. Venkatesan appealed to the Union Government to reconsider its decision on the 18 tourist desinations at least after 20 years. He condemned the Union Government which has denied Metro Rail project to Madurai and was encouraging smaller airports without basic infrastructure in other States
Published – November 20, 2025 09:30 pm IST
