Despite offering special incentives, seven airlines have shown no interest in operating commercial flights at Melaka International Airport (LTAM) at Batu Berendam, according to the Melaka works, infrastructure, public amenities, and transport committee chairman, Datuk Hameed Mytheen Kunju Basheer. The state government is still hopeful that at least one of these airlines will respond before the deadline on Oct 30. The incentives, which have been extended to local carriers and those from Indonesia and Singapore since last month, have not enticed any airlines to operate at LTAM. The carriers have cited low passenger volume on normal days and high operating costs at the airport as reasons for their lack of enthusiasm. Hameed Mytheen has not ruled out the possibility of offering additional incentives in a second round of offers in order to attract airlines to LTAM. He plans to discuss these potential offers with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and hopes to provide better incentives based on an expected increase in tourist arrivals in the state in conjunction with the Visit Melaka Year 2024.