The first direct international flight from here to Singapore is expected to take off during the last week of October, instead of October 1 as planned earlier, in view of the delay in obtaining clearance for late-night operations.
The Visakhapatnam Air Travellers Association (VATA) received information on Tuesday that the Indian Navy has given all the required permissions besides making arrangements with its own manpower to enable Silk Air to start operations and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has made arrangements to meet any shortage of manpower.
The airport director has been informally asked to make all the required arrangements and the official letter is expected to be handed over to him very soon, said VATA executive board members O. Naresh Kumar, P. Vishnu Kumar Raju, Ch. Ramakotaiah and K. Kumar Raju. Following a request made by them, Head (operations) of Silk Air in Hyderabad Vivek Jain has agreed to come to the city on August 23 along with his pre-operations team from Silk Air and Changi airport from Singapore.
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They would meet officials of oil companies for refuelling arrangements. They would also meet customs and immigration officials and the Airport Director to discuss operational matters and finalise their office space both at the airport and in the city.
The Silk Air representatives expect the letter of approval to be given to them this week.
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The VATA leaders thanked Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development and local MP D. Purandeswari, Minister for Infrastructure, Investments, Ports and Airports Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Anil Chopra for their initiative in getting the necessary clearances.
“I am yet to receive any communication on extension of watch hours,” Airport Director K. Srinivasa Rao said when contacted on the phone.