IMPHAL, Aug 16 : The Government of Manipur has been informed by the Ministry of Civil Aviation that international flight to and from Imphal airport could not be introduced as Imphal has no adequate air traffic potential.
In response to a representation sent by Chief Secretary O Nabakishore on May 30 this year, the Ministry of Civil Aviation sent a letter to the State Government last month informing that introduction of international flight to and from Imphal was not feasible.
Notably, Imphal airport was declared an international airport by the Ministry of Civil Aviation in 2013 along with Bhubaneshwar airport. However, no scheduled
commercial international flight has ever landed at Imphal airport.
Imphal International Airport was equipped with immigration and customs facilities as well as separate departure and arrival terminals.
Geographically, Imphal is close to Myanmar’s Yangon and Mandalay, Thailand’s Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and also China’s Kunming, the Chief Secretary pointed out in his letter.
The Chief Secretary asked the Ministry of Civil Aviation to introduce low-cost airlines between India and South East Asia through Imphal for development of tourism sector in Manipur.
The Chief Secretary’s letter was studied between the Ministry and airlines operating in India and the
airlines pointed out that Imphal has no adequate
potential for introducing commercial international
flights.
Air India categorically stated that it would not be viable to introduce international commercial flights to and from Imphal airport.
The question of introducing commercial flights from a particular airport is decided by the airlines themselves and the Government usually does not interfere, mentioned the Ministry’s reply.
