Rajkot: Rajkot International Airport at Hirasar is still awaiting its first scheduled international flight three years after its inauguration. Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) has now launched a campaign to push for international services before Diwali.RCCI president V P Vaishnav said he would work with Rajkot MP Parshottam Rupala to approach airlines and other stakeholders with the aim of securing an international connection within the next couple of months.The greenfield international airport at Hirasar received initial approval in 2010, while work gained momentum in 2016 after sustained efforts by the RCCI with the Union and state aviation authorities.Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the airport in 2017 and it was inaugurated on July 27, 2023. Despite being operational for three years, it is yet to see the launch of an international service.According to RCCI, Rupala recently raised the issue in Parliament after representations were made by the chamber. The ministry of civil aviation indicated that the airport is operationally prepared for international operations, but an airline must come forward with a proposal to begin services.“RCCI has decided to directly approach various airlines to ensure that international flight operations begin before Diwali,“ Vaishnav said.Regulatory preparations are also moving forward. Customs clearance facilities have already been approved, while an inspection team from Ahmedabad is expected to assess the immigration facilities at the airport.RCCI suggested potential international destinations such as Dubai and Bangkok as initial routes, along with broader connectivity to the Middle East. Such services, it said, could provide a major boost to Saurashtra’s business and industrial sectors while benefiting medical travellers, tourists and the wider public.Airport authority sources said the necessary infrastructure for international operations is in place. The start of services, they added, will ultimately depend on an airline submitting a proposal to operate an international route from the airport.
