Manipur writes to DGCA for allowing chartered flight at Imphal

Manipur government has written to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to allow landing of chartered flight from Myanmar to Imphal airport in connection with the forthcoming 'Sangai Festival,' official sources said today.
'Chief Ministers' of Sagang and Mandalay regions in Myanmar along with about 100 members of a delegation would land at Imphal on November 21 and 24 in connection with the 10-day festival beginning from November 21.
Sources said Myanmar-based airlines 'Golden Myanma Airlines Public Co. Ltd' (GMAPC) would bring the foreign delegates but the state was yet to receive any reply so far from the DGCA.

The union cabinet had recently decided to upgrade the Imphal airport to international standards but official notification in this regard was yet to be issued.
As per notification of Customs department in 1995, international tourists chartered flights can land at Imphal but no flight has landed so far.
If the GMAPC flight lands on November 21 from Mandalay city in Myanmar, it would be first international flight to land at the airport, sources said.
There was not yet any facility for visa on arrival at Imphal airport besides preventing entry of foreigners under protected area permit (PAP) regulations. If any foreigner wished to enter Manipur, they should first get the nod from the Union Home Ministry, sources said.

Sources also pointed out that Managing Director of the GMAPC Aung Yi has also written to the DGCA to allow the GMAPC from Mandalay city to Imphal airport on November 21.