AirAsia India says Surat within its Radar, airport potential cargo hub

NEW DELHI, May 27 (Bernama) Budget carrier AirAsia
India, which is planning an aggressive expansion in India, is looking
at Surat in Gujarat as one of its preferred destinations in the country
as it has the potential to emerge as a cargo hub.
A high-powered
team, comprising airline officials, will visit the city for three days
beginning June 2 to conduct a survey, reported Times of India quoting
South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI)'s President Paresh Patel.
AirAsia is a joint venture between Asia's largest frills-free low-cost airline, AirAsia Bhd of Malaysia, Tata Sons Ltd and Arun Bhatia of Telestra Tradeplace Pvt Ltd.
Surat
has a massive 167 hectare airport with facilities to park about eight
aircraft. It could be enhanced to 50 by creating hangers and making it a
cargo hub, said the English Daily.
Airport Authority of India had earlier planned to develop the airport as a cargo hub and parking space.
However,
the plans only remained on paper, said the report. "We foresee a good
future for Surat airport and it could be developed into a major cargo
and parking hub for national and international aircraft with few
modifications," said a senior AirAsia India official.
SGCCI had made representations to the airline to provide air connectivity to and from Surat.
A
private citizens group, demanding for a working airport in Surat, have
also been campaigning for more flights from Surat on the networking
sites. In their reply, officials of the airline have said that Surat is
on their radar for future planning. - BERNAMA