http://www.telegraphindia.com/1060522/asp/jamshedpur/story_6253390.asp
Deccan hits air pocket
OUR CORRESPONDENT
Jamshedpur, May 21: 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.

Any news on this?

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PTI

Air Deccan hits snag in Jharkhand

Ranchi, June 21 The Jharkhand government's move to invite a private carrier to connect this state capital with New Delhi has run into rough weather over the flight timings and funding.  

The government had invited interested parties to start air services on the Kolkata-Ranchi-New Delhi route. The aim was to have a flight that would reach New Delhi in the morning and return in the evening, allowing ministers, businessmen and officials to attend to work in the national capital.

Six companies put in bids and the low-cost, private carrier Air Deccan was selected by the state. However, the timing proposed by Air Deccan for the flight is not to the liking of the government.

According to a senior official, Air Deccan planes were to depart from Ranchi at 9.20 a.m. 'The timing does not suit us. We want to reach New Delhi by 10 a.m.,' the official told IANS.

The time of the return flight from New Delhi - 7 p.m. - is also not acceptable to the state government.

To make Air Deccan's service viable, the government had proposed to reserve 25 seats by paying for them.

'The government will pay Rs.55 million a year to Air Deccan so that it does not face any loss,' said an official.

According to officials, Air Deccan wants that the government reserve 60 seats and pay for them.

An Air Deccan official here said: 'There is no landing slot in New Delhi airport before 11.30 a.m. And Ranchi airport, which is short staffed, will not be able to handle flights landing after 7.30 p.m.'

Although there is another regular flight from here to New Delhi, its timings are odd. The plane arrives at Ranchi at 12.20 p.m. and leaves for the national capital at 4 p.m.