The Bagdogra Airport has for the first time made it to the list of India’s “point-of-call (PoC)” airports, which can host international flights without the prior approval of the Union ministry of civil aviation.
The list was revised after the ministry signed bilateral air service agreements (ASAs) with 116 countries to enhance international air connectivity from different parts of India.
“International flights from countries with which the ministry has signed the ASAs can directly operate at a point-of-call airport. This is an important development for Bagdogra,” said a source in the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Located 14km from Siliguri, Bagdogra is an important airport in north Bengal. The airport witnesses around 60 flight movements and handles approximately 8,000 passengers daily.
Druk Airways is the sole international airline that now connects Bagdogra. The airline operates the Paro-Bangkok flight with a stopover at Bagdogra.
Union minister of state for civil aviation Murlidhar Mohol had announced Bagdogra’s elevation as a point-of-call airport in reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha a few days ago.
Darjeeling MP Raju Bista said the decision would boost tourism in north Bengal and encourage new airlines to introduce flights at Bagdogra.
“Bagdogra has been included in the list of the point of call airports, along with other major airports in Delhi, Calcutta, Guwahati and Bhubaneswar. It is an important development and will boost air connectivity in north Bengal,” said Bista, who is
also the chairman of the advisory committee of the Bagdogra Airport.
The MP said the Union government had set the expansion of the Bagdogra Airport’s infrastructure in motion. He said the Bengal government should revoke its recent decision to impose a VAT (value-added tax) at 12.5 per cent on air turbine fuel (ATF)
at Bagdogra.
“I would request the chief minister to reconsider the decision. The state government should waive the VAT to promote tourism, a sector that employs the residents of remote areas,” the MP added.
The state had completely waived the VAT on ATF at Bagdogra in August 2013. The decision led to the introduction of new flights as airline companies took the opportunity to buy ATF at cheaper rates. However, the state government decided to withdraw the waiver last month.
“We welcome the Centre’s decision and hope airline companies will come forward to fly international flights from Bagdogra to southeast Asian countries,” said Debasish Chakraborty, the general secretary of the Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators’ Association.
