Deccan's Jamshedpur-Kokata flight plan in doubt

BY A CORRESPONDENT
May 24, 2006

The proposed Air Deccan flight between Jamshedpur and Kolkata may be deferred if Tata Steel does not get the mandatory licence from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for commercially using the Sonari airport, according to the Telegraph. Air Deccan MD Captain GR Gopinath said, according to the report, "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."

Tata Steel have already applied for the licence, motivated by Air Deccan showing interest in operating in the Jamshedpur-Kolkata sector. Both sets of documents, carrying Tata Steel's request as well as Air Deccan's letter, had been forwarded to the AAI in March. In addition, Tata Steel MD B. Muthuraman had also agreed to block bookings of 20 seats for up to six months with the commencement of Air Deccan's operations, with a clause that the block booking could be increased or decreased determined by the response.

Currently, the steel giant has permission to operate only private flight services at the airport. Additionally, the two players have to figure out whether the airport is ready to cater to commercial usage. Plans for a joint inspection are set for May 28, when officials of the DGCA, Air Deccan and Tata Steel will take a look at the existing infrastructure at the airport and suggest possible modifications that might be required.

The report also stated that the deal between the two is yet to be worked out as the exact cost and other modalities that Air Deccan would have to pay in exchange for airport usage have to be determined.

Meanwhile, Tata Steel is reported to be making every effort to ensure that all necessary facilities are available at the airport. According to the report, areas in the airport building for construction of terminal building, parking area and ticket counters had already been identified. In addition, the southern boundary wall of the airport will also be raised.