Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Dec 6: Regional carrier Air Odisha has postponed the launch of its services from Biju Patnaik International Airport to January.
The non-scheduled service provider had earlier promised Airports Authority of India (AAI) that it would commence operations by November-end but failed to keep its word.
However, Air Odisha has made it clear that it no longer wants the state government to sponsor three to four seats per trip of its nine-seater Cessna 208B-Grand Caravan aircraft as its financial health has improved.
The airline had launched the service November 2, 2012, between Bhubaneswar and Rourkela but immediately discontinued operations because of operational issues.
One of the biggest factors to prompt the airline to resume the service is a heavy reduction by the state in taxes on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) from 20 to 5 per cent.
However, connecting Bhubaneswar with Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Jeypore and Sambalpur is an uphill task and many of the issues are yet to be resolved, Air Odisha’s director (corporate affairs) Trideep Rout told Orissa POST.
“The state has primarily approved slashing of the night parking and landing charges while issues related to ambulance and fire tender services are yet to be fixed,” he said, adding the airline has got adequate funds to tide over any contingency.
Rout remarked that once the state gives its mandatory approval, it would take a fortnight to get the approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to roll out the service within the state.
Sources said the flying time from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela is 75 minutes, while it is one hour for Jharsuguda. It would take 95 minutes to reach Jeypore from Bhubaneswar.
The one-way fare from Bhubaneswar to Rourkela is around `5,500, `5,000 for Jharsuguda and Sambalpur from Bhubaneswar, depending on the jet fuel price.
Santosh Pani of the airline said that to woo the flyers, the base fare may be offered at
`1 (excluding taxes).