Khajuraho airport equipped with infra to boost tourism: Raju

The Centre has equipped the local airport with basic infrastructure of international standards with an aim to promote tourism, Union Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Ganpathi Raju said today.
"My ministry (civil aviation) has equipped Khajuraho airport with basic infrastructure of international standard and now we will ask airlines to start their flights to and fro to promote tourism", Raju, who presided over a function organised to mark the opening of a new terminal at the airport, said.
The terminal of international standards has come up with a cost of 90 crore in Khajuraho - a place known for erotic sculptures of Chandela dynasty.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan inaugurated the terminal.
Chouhan said all out efforts will be made to expand air connectivity of the region and the day was not far off when the international flight will land in Khajuraho.
The Chief Minister said that Khajuraho was a historical and international tourists' spot.

Under the bilaterals, the quota for seats and services
are equal for the airlines of the two countries concerned.
With Qatar it is 24,292 seats, Oman 21,147 seats, Sharjah has 17,841 seats, Baharain (11,500), Kuwait (12,000) plus 2 per cent of additional seats each for all. With Saudi Arabia it is 20,000 seats plus 2 per cent additional and an open skies with Dammam, according to official data.

While Gulf airlines have been clamouring for more seats, the government has been reluctant to do so as domestic airlines have been big losers compared to their Gulf counterparts.
For Etihad and Emirates, India is their largest market, while for Jet with its tie-up with Etihad the region should be the largest.
Domestic airlines like the national carrier Air India, private players like Jet Airways, Indigo and SpiceJet operate to the Gulf markets now.