Air Deccan Suspends Operations in Maharashtra Due to Shortage of Pilots and Aircraft

Mumbai, June 28: Private airline Air Deccan has suspended its services in Maharashtra saying that it is falling short of pilots and aircraft. According to a report by TOI, the airline had started its Maharashtra operations last December under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS). Reports inform that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has issued a show-cause notice on the airline.

AAI executive director (RCS) G K Chaukiyal was quoted by TOI saying that the airline (Air Deccan) had been told to explain its decision for the suspension of their services in the state. “The Union government has not paid the airline any subsidy that it is entitled to under RCS for its erratic services ever since it started operations in Maharashtra,” Chaukiyal said. The AAI executive director (RCS) said Air Deccan officials had assured AAI they would restart operations from next month.

After a gap of nearly two months, the airline was to restart its flight service between Nashik and Pune from June 21. According to a TOI report, the airline had stopped the operations from April 20 following lack of clearance from the defence ministry. An Air Deccan official had informed that since it has received clearance from the ministry, it would restart the Nashik-Pune operations from June 21.

Flyers must note that with the restarting of its services, the airline will offer services thrice a week instead of six days a week i.e. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The report quoted officials saying that from July 15, the Nashik-Pune flight will be operational on all weekdays, except Mondays.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 28, 2018 04:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).