Navy to impose curbs on civilian aircraft from Nov 1

Visakhapatnam: Not considering the big protest from the industry, tourism, IT, ITES, State Government, Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Association and the State government, the Indian Navy has decided to implement its restrictions on the civilian aircrafts from November 1, this year.

Even as Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu requested to hold the decision at least for 15-days, a crucial meeting was held on Monday between the Airports Authority of India and Indian Navy decided to restrict civilian flights in the morning hours.

According to the highly placed sources, the meeting decided to restrict the civilian flights at Visakhapatnam International Airport from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm from Monday to Friday, again between 7 pm and 9 pm on Tuesday and Thursday and between 9.30 am and 11.30 am on Saturday and Sunday. The meeting also decided to not allow any new flight services further.

With this, the Jet Airways cancelled its proposed direct flight service to New Delhi at 8.30 pm. The Sri Lankan Airways also cancelled one of its four services with the restrictions.

The Jet Airways requested to re-look at the evening time closure on Tuesday and Thursday as the period between 7 pm and 9 pm is considered as peak hour for flight operations.

The Indigo also requested to re-look at the evening slots. The Indigo officials informed the meeting that seven flight services will be affected with the proposed closure of airport. The Air Odisha informed that the morning closure window will affect their only flight to Visakhapatnam.

The sources said that the Indian Naval officers informed that morning closure from 9.30 am to 12.30 pm from Monday to Friday for naval flight operations and between 9.30 am and 11.30 am on Saturdays and Sundays for runway maintenance are very essential and need to be promulgated for the overall efficiency and safety of operations at Visakhapatnam Airport.

“The issue is very serious and there is a big threat to the development of Visakhapatnam as well as to the entire new Andhra Pradesh. After a series of meetings and efforts, we are bringing number of flight services to Visakhapatnam. These restrictions will damage the AP economy.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu should immediately intervene and take up the issue,” O.Naresh Kumar of Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers Association said.