Centre likely to scrap Air Odisha contract for suspending flights from Jharsuguda

Bhubaneswar: The contract of regional airline Air Odisha to operate flights from Jharsuguda airport under the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme is likely to be cancelled for discontinuing flight operations.

Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan termed Air Odisha as a substandard company which got the tender in the first round of bidding under the regional air connectivity scheme.

“Air Odisha is a substandard company. The Civil Aviation Ministry is reviewing its status and if necessary, steps would be taken to cancel its flight contract and a fresh tender would be floated for a regular flight from the Jharsuguda Airport,” said Pradhan.

He said the ministry is in talks with other airline companies like Indian Airlines, SpiceJet and IndiGo, which will start a regular flight if they get commercial success.

Notably, Air Odisha has discontinued its flight operations from Jharsuguda Airport from October 6.

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to restore the UDAN flight operations.

He also urged to name the airport as ‘Veer Surendra Sai Airport, Jharsuguda’.