NT Reporter
Panaji
With the aim of having a greater say in international air transport treaties, Goa has asked to be included in all future bilateral Air Service Agreements (ASA) of the aviation ministry.
“Participation in ASA negotiations will boost direct long-haul flights to the state and also improve access to markets like Europe and the UK. It will increase the operation of wide-body aircraft,” said the state government at the western region civil aviation ministers’ conference held recently in Mumbai.
The state also sought the resumption of flights in key domestic sectors such as the Goa–Dehradun route, previously operational under the Dekho Apna Desh scheme, while requesting new regional connections to destinations like Kolhapur, Velankanni, and Tirupati.
Other demands raised during the conference include improvements in aviation infrastructure by fast-tracking the establishment of a Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility on the 26 acres earmarked at Manohar International Airport, Mopa, along with the setting up of a Flight Training Organisation (FTO) to position the state as a regional aviation skilling hub.
To encourage airlines to operate, the state requested the ministry to introduce a national incentive scheme that would ensure the commercial viability of both long-haul international and regional routes.
The state also sought support for the development of helicopter connectivity, seaplane services, and drone innovation under the Drone Didi initiative.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, who attended the conference, proposed that Goa be India’s first integrated air–sea tourism hub by leveraging the geographical proximity between Dabolim Airport and the Vasco Cruise Terminal.
State officials highlighted the success of the Aviation Skill Development Centre (ASDC), Mopa, which has trained over 1,100 local youth in the past two years with near-total placement.
The regional conference was held to strengthen Centre–State collaboration and promote cooperative federalism to shape India’s evolving aviation growth strategy. The state delegation presented a series of proposals to synchronise Goa’s thriving tourism sector with the rapidly evolving civil aviation landscape.
