Sharjah flight awaits go-ahead

Chandigarh, October 30
The flight from the city to Sharjah will be delayed as international airliner Air Arabia is yet to get the green signal from the Director-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), New Delhi. The flights were scheduled to take off from the local airport in the first week of November.

The operation of more international flights from the city has also been delayed as the Ministry of Environment and Forests is yet to give its nod to the setting up of an international airport, for which the Punjab government has already acquired 603 acres on the Mohali side.

According to sources, Air Arabia was planning to launch its maiden Chandigarh-Sharjah flight in the first week of November. But as the file submitted by the international airliner to the DGCA was still awaiting clearance, the airliner would not be able to start its operations by November 15. A senior official of Air Arabia said they had already submitted documents relating to operations from the city and if they got the nod within the next few days, they would be able to start the flight by the second week of November.

Airport director HS Toor said customs had already initiated steps for setting up immigration facilities at the airport and the Chandigarh Police and customs had been asked to handle immigration at the airport.

He said they had already requested the Ministry of Defence to increase the timings of ATC facility so that more flights could operate from the city.

He said once they got clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forests, work on construction of the terminal building and the car parking would be started immediately.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Ministry of Environment and Forests visited the site of the international airport at Mohali after the local airport authorities sought clearance from the ministry for the construction of the terminal and other facilities. The officials listened to the grievances of local residents.