SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has asked the civil aviation authorities and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to prioritise flight services from Shillong to Delhi by holding a meeting and to come up with a concrete plan.
Various airlines are doubting the commercial viability of such service in the sector.
The plan is to spell out in what manner and by what time either CR Jets or ATR 47, ATR 72-600 or Bombardier-Q400 can start operations from Delhi to Umroi airport.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice HS Thangkhiew also issued notice to Zoom Airways and Air India for filing their respective responses about operation of CR Jets from Delhi to Umroi airport.
“The Ministry of Civil Aviation and AAI shall file an affidavit well before the date fixed so as to indicate in clear terms about preparation of the plan,” the court said.
The matter will come up for hearing again on April 3.
Earlier, the court said affidavit filed on behalf of AAI on March 15 revealed that Umroi airport is ready for operation of ATR 72-600 aircraft.
The affidavit said technically ATR 72-600 and Bombardier-Q400 aircraft can operate between Umroi and Delhi airports. However, commercial viability is entirely in the domain of airliners.
It was further stated in the affidavit that at present Umroi airport has CAT-5 Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS). The upgradation of RFFS at the airport is a continuous process which depends on the flight schedule of airliners at the airport.
Once SpiceJet submits the confirmed flight schedule for Umroi airport, AAI will take immediate measures for CAT-6 RFFS at Umroi airport. The pavement strength at Umroi airport is sufficient for Bombardier-Q400 aircraft, the court said.
Space on the apron at Umroi airport is sufficient for parking of one Bombardier-Q400 2 aircraft and an ATR 72-600 aircraft. On receiving confirmation regarding flight schedule of SpiceJet or any other airliner, AAI will take immediate steps for providing apron marking for Bombardier-Q400 aircraft. Precisely it is a categorical stand of AAI that Umroi airport in all respects is ready for operation, the court said.
The affidavit filed on behalf of Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that on March 13, a meeting was convened regarding operation of ATRs from Shillong to Delhi. Representatives of Inter-Globe Aviation Limited, Spice Jet and Alliance Airline Allied Services Limited (AASL) were also present. After detailed deliberation with the representatives of the concerned airliners, it has emerged that ATR 72 aircraft can be technically operated from Delhi to Shillong but they have to undergo huge load penalty on the route on account of distance which will have an adverse impact on the commercial viability of operations. However, representatives of airliners informed that they would explore the possibility to operate flights from Delhi to Shillong and vice versa section based on the technical and financial viabilities.
“It is quite disturbing and disgusting, after reaching to a point when Umroi airport as stated by AAI is fit for operation, airliners have reservations and this situation was not brought to the notice of the court when the proceedings in Public Interest Litigation (PIL) were initiated”, the court said.
Initially, the airport extension was with an objective to make it fit for operation of Airbus from Delhi to Umroi airport and the state government had cleared all the hurdles.
“A strange situation arose when the airliners started showing their disinclination for want of commercial viability. ATRs 72-600 are being operated in different areas only by few airliners i.e. Indigo, Spice Jet Airways and AASL.
Counsel for the Defence K Paul brought to the notice of the court that C.R. Jets which fly at high altitude were being operated by Air India earlier from Guwahati to Delhi with a flying time of 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Two airliners, Air India and Zoom Airways possess C.R. Jets which they are operating and if they agree that will be more convenient because their flying time will be just two and a half hours whereas ATRs possessed by Indigo and Spice Jet as stated by their respective counsels will have flying time of more than four hours from Umroi airport to Delhi airport, the court said.
The court granted two weeks’ time to enable the Civil Aviation and AAI to hold immediate meeting with stakeholders which may include Zoom Airways and Air India to come up with a concrete plan.
