MP Advocates International Status for Raipur Airport, Seeks UAE Flight Pact Revision.

In a bid to secure international status for Raipur’s Swami Vivekananda Airport, Member of Parliament Brijmohan Agrawal has written to the Union Minister of Civil Aviation, urging a revision of the 2014 bilateral agreement between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Agrawal emphasized the need to amend the agreement to allow more Indian cities, including Raipur, to be connected to international flights. In his letter to Union Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, he referenced discussions from the airport advisory committee’s meeting on December 26, which explored the feasibility of establishing direct flights from Raipur to destinations like the UAE, Thailand, and Vietnam through international carriers.

However, under the existing agreement, only 15 Indian cities are permitted to have direct flights to the UAE. Discussions with the UAE ambassador suggested expanding this limit to 30 Indian airports. Agrawal urged the civil aviation ministry to prioritize this matter, facilitating Raipur’s elevation to international airport status.

Additionally, Agrawal has reached out to Kamal Hingorani, Chief Commercial Officer of SpiceJet, inviting the airline to explore the feasibility of launching international flights from Raipur. He proposed identifying suitable international routes and collaborating with the state government to ensure necessary support for the initiative.

ET