Air Odisha Starts Flight Operation

BHUBANESWAR: Air Odisha, which had stopped intra-state flight operation, on Monday started running usual flight operation after the state government granted 75% of pending subsidy amount.

“The domestic carrier has started operation to Rourkela and Sambalpur on Monday after the state government granted 75% of pending subsidy amount,” said the general manager of Air Odisha.

Air Odisha had stopped its intra-state aircraft operation in the state from Monday due to non-payment of subsidy amount of Rs 60 lakh.

Notably, the Odisha government on Monday issued a show-cause notice to the Air Odisha for stopping its intra-state flight operation in the state.

The General Administration Department has issued the notice asking why it stopped the flight operation without informing the government, which it sees as a breach of agreement with the Odisha government.

Earlier on Sunday, Air Odisha CMD Radhakanta Pani had said the board of directors of the airlines have decided to suspend the flight operations on all routes till the pending amount is sanctioned to the company.

He said the company had hired an aircraft from a Singapore-based company.

“We have to pay to the company. But, in the case of delay, it becomes difficult for small airlines like us to run operations,” he added.