Dabolim Airport Director Gagan Malik on Wednesday said the resumption of international flights would depend on approval from the Centre.
Malik was speaking to reporters after the inauguration of artwork at Dabolim Airport by South Goa MP Francis Sardinha.
"Dabolim airport had never shut down and even during the lockdown, it was fully functional. Even today (Wednesday) morning, we have sent a relief flight to Russia. We have handled more than 47 relief flights but the issue on resuming international commercial flights between nation to nation has to be decided by the Centre depending on an understanding with other countries. Airports are functional and international service can be opened up when approvals are granted by the Centre,” said Malik.
"Qatar Airways had taken slots under Air Bubble platform to arrive in Goa, bringing in passengers and taking back passengers from Goa but maybe they did not have the load factor because many repatriation flights had already arrived here.”
“We have handled more than 37 repatriation flights and 11 Vande Mission flights bringing in more than 10,000 people and we have also sent an equal number of people by relief flights. A lot of economics like the number of arriving and departing passengers play a role in international flights," said Malik.
"We also had five slots from September onward for Goa-London Vande Bharat Mission flights because we have approvals from the Centre,” the airport director added.
Meanwhile, South Goa MP Francis Sardinha also said the central government has to weigh many options before resuming international flights operations.
"What is the point in having the airport open for international flights when flights from other countries are not arriving? This decision is not with Dabolim Airport and certain things are governed by the Centre and they will make a decision.”
“It not only depends on our country but also on countries which will have flights arriving here and there are many other factors to be considered,” the MP said.
