UDAN yet to take off

SHILLONG: Even as the scheme Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) was launched and the Air Deccan selected to operate from Shillong’s Umroi airport linking the Meghalaya capital to other state capitals of the North East, the services are yet to be launched.
Though the Air Deccan had given a tentative date of December 15, 2017 to start the services from the Umroi airport, it is yet to be started.
This private sector airline was to press into service 20-seater aircraft to connect the other NE state capitals.
According to the UDAN scheme, the Umroi airport was to be connected to five destinations in the North East: Agartala, Aizawl, Dimapur, Imphal and Silchar.
The letter of award to Air Deccan was issued by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on March 30, 2017. It said the airline should commence its operations on these sectors from August, 2017.
The Selected Airline Operator Agreement was also inked between the AAI and Air Deccan. However, it was not done.
The AAI sources here said that the Air Deccan committed to launch the services from Umroi airport in January, 2018.
The airline, however, did not give any final date for launching of the operations.
Sources also said that since it’s a new company, its management must be facing problems regarding recruitment of pilots and other logistics staff.
This may be the probable reason for the delay in starting the air services from Shillong.
Air Deccan will carry out the air service with incentives from both the Centre and the state government at funding pattern of 90:10. The fare per passenger is capped at Rs 2,500.