Jamshedpur,  Air Deccan may defer its proposed flight between Jamshedpur and Calcutta, if the Airports Authority of India (AAI) further delays issuing a licence to Tata Steel for using the Sonari airport for commercial purposes.

Managing director of Air Deccan Captain G.R. Gopinath told The Telegraph: “We cannot wait beyond June 15. If the approval does not come on or before that date, we will be forced to utilise our aircraft in the Calcutta-Guwahati sector or on some other route.”

According to him, Tata Steel, who look after Sonari airport, have already written to AAI seeking a licence for introducing commercial flights.

Tata Steel’s move comes close on the heels of the Air Deccan evincing interest in operating flight services between the city and Calcutta.

The steel major, in March this year, had forwarded a request along with the letter of Air Deccan to AAI authorities in this regard. The company, at present, has permission for only private flight operations.

Sources in Air Deccan said the managing director of Tata Steel, B. Muthuraman, had, in a recent meeting with the airline’s officials, agreed to a block booking of 20 seats for six months from the date of commencement of the flight.

The block booking might be increased or decreased depending upon the response.

According to sources, Air Deccan would pay Tata Steel for using its airport though the exact cost and other modalities were still being worked out.

A joint inspection will be carried out at Sonari airport on May 28 by the officials of director general of civil aviation, Air Deccan and Tata Steel. The officials would inspect the existing infrastructure at the airport and would recommend if any modifications were required.

Sources in Tata Steel said efforts are being made to arm the airport with necessary facilities to use it for commercial purposes.

The strategy department of the company had already identified the areas in the airport for construction of terminal building, parking area and ticket counters, sources said.

Plans are also afoot to raise the height of the boundary wall of the southern part of the airport.