By the beginning of next year, the airport here is set to witness more flight operations with Air Odisha getting the nod for operating between Chennai-Puducherry-Salem-Bengaluru sector.
As per information available with The Hindu , the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has cleared the sector for commercial operations.
As per the schedule, the flight will depart Chennai by 8.10 a.m and reach Puducherry at 8.55 a.m.
It will take off from here at 9.10 a.m and reach Salem at 10 a.m. and from there it will resume its service at 10.15 a.m. and reach Bengaluru International Airport at 10.55 a.m.
In its return journey, the flight will take off from Chennai at 11.15 a.m, reach Salem at noon, Puducherry at 1 p.m. and Chennai at 2 p.m.
Sources in the government said though DGCA had announced the schedule, there could be certain changes once the airliner officially announces the date of commencement of operations. “However, we are certain that it will start service by this month or beginning of next year,” said a senior official.
New airline?
Meanwhile, a private firm, which had applied for licence for air operations with DGCA, had visited Puducherry to explore the possibility of operating service from here.
The Delhi-based company involved in Maintenance Repair and Overhaul organisation has plans to operate scheduled commuter airline in South India which will be connecting all Tier 2 and 3 cities with metro cities.
A company representative told The Hindu that routes had been planned in such a way that Puducherry would be connected with Bengaluru and Kochi as same day return flights.
“We have zeroed in on Kochi as it is the nearest airport to Mahe, an enclave of Puducherry.
“We will shortly announce airline identity and route network after filing the NoC with the Civil Aviation Ministry,” he said.
Meanwhile, sources in the airport said there had been many enquiries for route to Kerala and Bengaluru.
