NEC wants dedicated airline for NE skies from July 2008

Shillong, Aug 16 (UNI) With a view to improving the air connectivity, the North Eastern Council (NEC) is exploring the possibility of establishing a dedicated airline for the Northeast, based on Public-Private Partnership.

The airline is expected to start operations by July next year, an NEC official said here today.

The Council has already invited interested private commercial airline operators and the deadline for receiving applications had been extended upto August 20.

The selected airline will improve intra-region air connectivity within the NE as well as the pathfinder for future locations.

The selected airlines operator would be required to sign a five-year service agreement with the NEC.

The NEC would also fund the chosen airline by granting soft loans.

The dedicated airline will operate on the ''hub and spook model'' with Guwahati as its base. It could also establish sub-hub bases at Imphal and Agartala.

The fleet would comprise jet or turboprop aircraft and must have Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) capability, which is suitable for the northeastern terrain.

The Council had been spending over Rs 35 crore every year to maintain the Alliance Air services, which was not satisfactory, an official said.

The chief ministers of the NE states had been demanding a reliable air service for the region as the existing air services by the Alliance Air were found to be irregular and uncertain.

The first priority should be to provide connectivity between the state capitals with other airports in the region.

Meanwhile, the Council has renewed the service of Alliance Air for one more year up to December 2008, to facilitate smooth replacement with the new dedicated airlines.

UNI