Air Odisha gets showcause over cancellations from new airport

The ministry’s Twitter account stated: “Jharsuguda Airport is a full fledged functional airport and available for all domestic scheduled & non-scheduled operations.

The selected Airline under UDAN has been issued with showcause for discontinuing their operations quoting technical reasons. Non commencement within prescribed period would lead for cancellation of current award. Routes would be opened for bidding & allocated to eligible Airlines for better connectivity.”

“The last flight from the airport by Air Odisha was on October 06,” said Airport Director S K Chauhan.

While stating that Air Odisha has been cancelling flights without prior intimation, Chauhan said, “Even when they operate flights, they mostly ignore scheduled timings and take off or land with massive delays.”

Chauhan said he brought the matter to the notice of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).

According to data released by the DGCA, Air Odisha accounted for the second highest number of cancellations among all domestic operators consecutively from June to August. The operator’s cancellation rate in July was 94.23 per cent.

“It is not clear why the Ministry did not crack down on the airline earlier,” said an airport official. Airport officials also allege that Air Odisha also does not offer passengers an online ticket reservation system.

“Passengers have to come to its office in the airport and take hard copies of tickets. The office, which does not observe regular hours for business, has now been shut for around 15 days,” said another official.