Flydubai operation from city may be delayed

Dubai's state-owned low-cost airline, flydubai's plan to start operations from Bhubaneswar airport is likely to be delayed as the airline is awaiting the Centre's nod. "We do not have clearances for increasing the passenger capacity agreed bilaterally. The government have to clear the proposal for enhancing the number of seats to India, then only we can start operations from Bhubaneswar," said an official of flydubai. The low cost carrier had submitted a schedule to start flights between Dubai and Bhubaneswar two years ago. It is yet to be approved.

There are speculations that the airline may start its operation by November end. But the official declined to commit anything and said, it is a subject of bilateral agreement between India and Dubai.

After the government of India gives its consent to increase the seat capacity, the Dubai government will take a decision on starting operations, said the top official of flydubai, which is currently operating from Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. The state should take an initiation by pursuing the matter with the Central government so that the flight operation between Bhubaneswar and Dubai can start at the earliest, said Debasis Patnaik, Convenor, Invest Bhubaneswar, a forum to connect businesses with investors and playing a key role in attracting international airliners to start operations from the city.