11 firms to provide services to NE aviation sector
Agartala,
Oct
02:
At
least
11
private
firms
have
expressed
their
interest
to
provide
services
to
the
aviation
sector
under
regional
airlines
permit
following
Civil
Aviation
Ministry's
approval
for
a
dedicated
regional
aircraft
in
North
East.
North Eastern Council (NEC) officials here today said according to a resolution passed in NEC sectoral meeting at Aizawl on upgradation of communication network the ministry had invited expression of interest in August last.
The firms have also asked the ministry to make arrangement to start operation in 12 new airports in the region at the earliest, the officials said adding that 25 new airports would come up during 11th five year plan.
According to the plan, about 400 flights would connect the region internally and with the mainland by end of 2009. The DoNER ministry had also initiated the process for bidding with the interested firms in this month.
Officials said the airlines would be subsidised by the funds from NEC and operation of airlines were expected to start by July 01 next year.
Three South Indian airlines, Chennai-based Air Dravida, Kochi-based Emric Air and Star Aviation, had applied to the government for a license to launch regional airlines in early September, officials added.
UNI