From Domestic to Global: Raipur Airport's International Dream Takes Flight

In an effort to elevate Raipur’s Swami Vivekananda Airport to international status, Member of Parliament Brijmohan Agrawal has urged the Union Minister of Civil Aviation to revise the 2014 bilateral agreement between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Agrawal highlighted the need to amend the agreement to enable more Indian cities, including Raipur, to have direct international flight connectivity. In his letter to Union Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu, he referenced discussions from the airport advisory committee’s December 26 meeting, which explored the feasibility of establishing direct flights from Raipur to destinations such as the UAE, Thailand, and Vietnam through international carriers.

Currently, the agreement allows only 15 Indian cities to operate direct flights to the UAE. However, discussions with the UAE ambassador indicated a possible expansion to 30 airports. Agrawal urged the civil aviation ministry to prioritize this change, paving the way for Raipur’s recognition as an international airport.

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

News by Rahul Yelligetti.