flydubai (FZ, Dubai International) is one of several international airlines which are keen to start operations at India's Surat airport, reports the Times of India. Airport officials are also in communication with other airlines, such as Air Arabia, Qatar Airways, SilkAir, Thai Airways International, and AirAsia. However, any international expansion is still subject to regulatory approvals, and improved facilities for larger aircraft, as well as customs and immigration management.
As previously reported, local carrier Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) planned to launch Surat's international operations with direct flights to Dubai International in May. These have been postponed pending Surat's designation as a customs notified airport by the Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC), as well as a runway extension planned for completion by end-2017.
The Chairman of South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry's aviation committee, Rajnikant Marfatia, highlights however that it's important to get local carriers into the international scene before bringing in foreign companies.
"While we are in constant touch with several international airlines which are eager to begin operations from Surat, we are awaiting Union minister of civil aviation Jayant Sinha to keep his word regarding international connectivity with Indian carriers such as Air India Express and SpiceJet (SG, Delhi International) since international carriers have exhausted their bilateral seat entitlements," Marfatia said. "The Government of India needs to review potential and increase seats for foreign airlines eager to start flights to Surat."
Despite ongoing delays, flydubai is still keen on operating out of Surat. The Emirati budget carrier's Regional Manager, Pran Dasan, said that they are just waiting on bureaucratic hurdles to be cleared. "Surat has always been a key market for flydubai and we have time and again at various forums expressed our desire to add Surat to our international network," Dasan said. "However, permission for the same is subject to traffic rights."
Locals are starting to get anxious that Surat's international designation will never come through. One group, Surat Airport Action Committee (SAAC), threatened to hold a hunger strike in front of the facility to spur politicians into action. They particularly want international operations to start before local elections in December.
As it stands, Surat is served by SpiceJet, Air India and Alliance Air (India) which between them offer flights to Delhi International, Kolkata, Mumbai International, Goa Dabolim, Hyderabad International and Jaipur.
