Ras Al Khaimah International Airport will come in at the lower end of its target for passenger numbers this year, the airport’s chief executive says.
Mohammed Qazi said the airport is being hamstrung by delays on the part of Indian authorities processing paperwork that would enable flights to India by Air Arabia, which has succeeded the defunct RAK Airways as the emirate's flagship carrier.
Before the India delay, RAK airport had expected 250,000 to 400,000 passengers to pass through its gates this year.
Mr Qazi says the delays mean the lesser of those figures is the airport’s new target.
“Of course, the 250,000-400,000 passengers that were expected was based on the route to India. If this doesn’t happen, we will expect 250,000 passengers,” he said.
He added, “It has been five months since we applied [for approvals]. It shouldn’t take this long.”
Air Arabia started operations from RAK airport on May 6 with the launch of flights to seven cities. Calicut in India was part of its operating plan, but it is still waiting necessary approvals from the Indian authorities.
In an email, a representative of Air Arabia said: “We look forward to start operations into Calicut and other cities in India in due course time.”
Mr Qazi is hoping for a resolution soon.
“We are assured that the approvals will be attained in the coming few weeks,” said Mr Qazi. “It’s something that we want to go live as soon as possible, because it affects [the Indian] local community.
“It’s not a new capacity that we are requesting. It’s the same old capacity,” he added.
He conceded, “The first phase of the route development hadn’t gone as planned.”
RAK Airways used to operate to Calicut from RAK Airport. However, the budget carrier ceased operations on January 1.
Mr Qazi said that service to Iraq is on the airport’s route agenda “at some stage”. However, as the violent events unfold, he does not see it happening soon.
selgazzar@thenational.ae
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