MADURAI: Sub: Air India Express flight operation between Madurai-Singapore have been stopped from 30.03.2021 due to non functioning of third shift of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, during flight operations in night hours at Madurai Airport and continued refusal of the Central Govt to declare Madurai Airport as 24/7 Airport – Trade and Industry and general public are deeply shocked and dismayed – Request to resume the said flight operation.
APPEAL TO MODI GOVT:
In an important press release here on 1st April 2021, TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Mr.N.Jegatheesan has said that “the Tamilnadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s persistent efforts to Union Civil Aviation Ministry activated the inauguration of direct flight service in Madurai-Singapore Sector from 15th September 2017 by Air India Express. The Director General of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the present ATC watch hours (i.e., 6.00 to 22.00 hrs) to one hour extra with overtime salary to CISF and nominated additional security personnel to facilitate operational of direct flight to Singapore at late night hour by Air India Express,
in Madurai Airport.
AIR INDIA EXPRESS SINGAPORE FLIGHT:
“We came to know that the 03rd shift of CISF personnel are not working now at Madurai Airport i.e., an hour extra of the present ATC Watch hour with OT salary to facilitate operational of Air India Express Singapore Flight. It was informed that a request was made for preponing an hour before the existing arrival time of the Air India Express
Singapore flight with Singapore Airport. But the request was rejected due to more number of international flights from various destinations are scheduled for its arrival, at that time at Singapore Airport. Due to this the Air India Express Madurai – Singapore flight services have been stopped from 30.03.2021. Due to deployment of insufficient number of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel, third shift has not been functioning in Madurai Airport. Inability of flights to
land in the airport from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. and continued refusal of the Central Govt to declare the Airport as 24/7 Airport, despite the fact that the Madurai airport handles much more number of domestic and International passenger traffic than certain other airports in the region has resulted in diversion of many new flight services scheduled for Madurai
Airport to other airports.
INCLUDE MADURAI AIRPORT ALSO:
The press statement from TN Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on 1sr April 2021 has further stated that the non-inclusion of Madurai Airport in the Bi-lateral Airport Treaties concluded by the Indian Government with other nations except Sri Lanka, has been inhibiting international airliners
especially those from Malaysia, Singapore, Sharjah, Qatar and other Gulf nations for operation of flights to Madurai.
It is pertinent to note that Madurai-Singapore direct flight provides inter alia, substantial stimulus for industrial and tourism growth in Southern Tamilnadu besides benefiting passengers bound for Singapore and other eastern destinations from the Southern districts of Tamil Nadu and return. Tourist arrival from rest of the world to Madurai through
Singapore have increased. People hailing from Southern Tamilnadu settled in Singapore and Malaysia are much benefitted to come to Madurai easily being a health destination for affordable medical treatment. Hospitality sector and trade and industry in the region flourished.
“On behalf of trade and industry and general public in Southern Tamilnadu, the TN Chamber is making an appeal to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to resume the Air India Express flight operations between Madurai-Singapore sector as operated earlier, for the growth of
trade & industry and economic development of this region” TN Chamber president Mr.N.Jegatheesan has said in the press release issued from Madurai yesterday- on April 1st 2021.
