Kannur airport to receive 'point of call' status soon, discussion held with PM: Kerala CM

Mattannur (Kannur): Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has expressed optimism that Kannur International Airport Limited (KIAL) will soon receive the 'Point of Call' status for foreign airlines. 

Speaking at the 15th annual general meeting of KIAL (Kannur International Airport Limited), Vijayan said, “We have discussed this matter with the Prime Minister. As per his suggestion, a meeting with the Union Minister for Civil Aviation will be held soon. We are in talks with airlines to increase services at Kannur."

Kannur Airport has been ranked among the top three airports in India and within the top ten globally in the Airport Service Quality Survey conducted by Airport Service International. A project is being prepared in collaboration with REC Limited to restructure KIAL's existing debt. Vijayan also mentioned that the international cargo complex will soon be operational, and discussions are underway to establish a Hajj House.

The income and expenditure accounts for the fiscal year 2023-24 were approved at the meeting. Other agenda items included approval for the salary increase of KIAL’s Managing Director, as well as the reappointment of directors M.A. Yusuff Ali and M.P. Hassan Kunhi. KIAL's Managing Director C. Dinesh Kumar, company secretary Aby Eapen, and directors also attended the online meeting.

No right to information, no CAG audit

KIAL officials clarified that Kannur Airport does not come under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, in response to a question from shareholders. They also stated that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) would not audit the airport’s accounts.

Currently, an agency has been entrusted with the audit, and shareholders were requested to cooperate, KIAL informed. However, the KIAL Shareholders Association alleged that there was no opportunity to raise further questions and that the annual meetings were conducted as mere formalities.