Surat-Bhavnagar-Rajkot flight may take wings soon

Surat: If all goes well, the long cherished dream of Surtis, especially the wealthy Patel diamantaires from Saurashtra region, to get a direct flight between Surat-Bhavnagar-Rajkot could be a reality in the next two months.
Guwahati-based Luan airways private limited, a non-scheduled operator, is mulling over starting passenger services connecting Surat with Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Delhi in August.
More than 600 private luxury buses ferry more than 3,000 passengers from Surat to Bhavnagar, Amreli and Rajkot daily. The diamantaires believe that the decision to start flight services between Surat, Bhavnagar and Rajkot would be a huge success.
Luan airways, a new company in the domestic air transport services was granted an NOC by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to operate non-schedule air transport services on August 28, 2008.
A senior official with Luan airways asking anonymity, said, "We are awaiting a green signal from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for starting the flight service from Surat. Most formalities such as acquiring the aircraft have been completed."
Sources said the private airline has submitted a proposal to start morning flight services between Surat, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Delhi to the AAI and it is in the final stage of approval.
"The proposal is in the final stage of consideration. The private airline has also asked for the night parking facility for its aircraft," said Ashok Verma, AAI's Surat air controller.
08/06/09 Melvyn Thomas/Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: New Jun 2009, Regional Airlines Jun 2009