North-East set to have dedicated airlines

NEW DELHI: The Seven Sisters will soon get a gift of wings. The north-eastern region is set to have dedicated airlines which will operate passenger services in the seven states. The North Eastern Council had solicited bids, in response to which 12 airlines had submitted expressions of interest to launch new airlines. Kingfisher, Pawan Hans Helicopters and Alliance Air are among the carriers which have shown interest.

According to sources in the civil aviation ministry: ”All the carriers which have shown interest will be given bid documents, after which they will be allowed to formally bid. The carrier which will qualify would have to give assurance to the NEC that it will carry out all the services that are required. After the bidding, minimum required subsidy will be given to the selected carrier.”

At present, NEC has a contract with Alliance Air to operate flights which expires in December 2007. This has been extended for another year till the end of 2008, as it will take another six to eight months before the new airlines can start operating. NEC pays Rs 35 cr per year to Alliance Air to operate ATR services in the North-East.

Interestingly, Pawan Hans which has also submitted an expression of interest to the NEC, has offered to use fixed wing aircraft in its expression of interest, civil aviation officials said.

“More carriers want to fly to the north-eastern region. The problem is that you need smaller aircraft there with only short take off and landing (STOL) facility available,” said a civil aviation ministry official. For the dedicated North-East airlines, the pan-Indian carriers will have to follow the ministry route dispersal guidelines.