In response to Unstarred Question No. 2299 in Lok Sabha by Shri K Sudhakaran, the Minister of Civil Aviation states that the government has received representations to designate Kannur International Airport as a tourist destination under the ASEAN Open Sky Policy. The Government of India currently promotes international operations by Indian carriers from non-metro points. Non-metro points, including Kannur, are not being granted as a new Point of Call in the ASAs to any foreign carrier. The identification of the 18 points under the ASEAN Open Sky policy was a one-time decision after considering operational, strategic, and administrative factors. The Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation is Shri Murlidhar Mohol. The question was to be answered on February 12, 2026.
Key Entities Referenced
ASEAN Open Sky Policy: A policy related to air travel between ASEAN member states and external countries. The context suggests a query regarding designating Kannur International Airport as a 'tourist destination' under this policy.
Ministry of Civil Aviation: The Indian government ministry responsible for civil aviation policies and regulations.
Kannur International Airport: An airport in Kannur, India, which is the subject of the parliamentary question regarding its designation as a 'tourist destination' under the ASEAN Open Sky Policy.
Bilateral Air Services Agreements (ASAs): Agreements between countries that regulate air services. The query involves including Kannur as a point of call under these agreements.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2299
( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 12th February 2026 )
POINT OF CALL STATUS TO KANNUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
2299. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN
Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
be pleased to state:-
(a) whether the Government has received representations to designate Kannur
International Airport as a “tourist destination” under the ASEAN Open Sky Policy
to allow operations by foreign carriers;
(b) if so, the current status thereof and the specific criteria used by the Government
to classify an airport as one of the 18 designated tourist destinations under this
policy;
(c) whether the Government is aware that the lack of “Point of Call” status and
exclusion from the Open Sky Policy is causing a monopoly of certain carriers,
leading to exorbitant airfares for the North Malabar diaspora and if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) whether the Government has fixed any specific timeline to review the Bilateral
Air Services Agreements to include Kannur as a point of call for major Middle
Eastern and South-East Asian airlines and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)
(a) to (d): Yes, the Government has received representations to designate Kannur
International Airport as a "tourist destination" under the ASEAN Open Sky policy.
Presently, the Government of India promotes more international operations by
Indian carriers from non-metro points either directly or through their own domestic
operations. Accordingly, non-metro points, including Kannur, are not being granted
as new Point of Call in the ASAs to any foreign carrier.
The identification of the 18 points under the ASEAN Open Sky policy was a one-
time policy decision after due consideration keeping in view the prevailing
operational, strategic, and administrative factors.
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