Madurai-Kochi Air India flight proposal is seen as a welcome move

Travel Club has welcomed the National Carrier Air India’s proposal to launch a flight service between Kochi and Madurai.

In a statement issued here, past president G. Vasudevan said that the proposed flight AI 9503 was likely to depart from Kochi at 3.30 p.m. and arrive at Madurai by 4.35 p.m. In its return journey, it would leave as AI 9504 and reach Kochi by 5.20 p.m.

This would be operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with an ATR type Aircraft having a capacity of 72 passengers.

This flight service would be a boost to Madurai as it would connect the Temple City to a number of foreign destinations as Air India and many airliners such as Jet Airways, Spice Jet, Emirates Airlines, Kuwait Airways, Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia, Gulf Air, Tiger Airways, Sri Lankan Airlines and other carriers were operating from Kochi.

With Madurai having Customs facility, Dr. Vasudevan said that there could be seamless connectivity to places across the globe, which in turn would have a cascading effect on tourism to and from Madurai.

Passengers could clear their baggage in Madurai and have their immigration done in Cochin.

“We urge the State and Central Governments to establish ‘Immigration Facilities’ in Madurai Airport at the earliest so that passengers can have their immigration and customs formality done in Madurai itself and can proceed to their foreign destinations easily via Cochin,” he added.

The Travel Club also requested the Central Government to permit cargo to be uplifted from Madurai Airport by setting up necessary infrastructure.

In this connection, he said that the Club was planning to meet various officials of Airport Authority of India (AAI) through its honorary member and Madurai Airport Director Sankiah Pandian.

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