Aiming for the sky

Jamshedpur, Aug. 5: It promises to be a no-frills, no-snacks affair, but steel city fliers are hoping to be third time lucky with private operator Deccan Charters setting an August 17 deadline to launch its flight service connecting Jamshedpur and Calcutta.

Sanjay Sehgal, head of business development, Deccan Charters told The Telegraph: “We confirm the commercial launch on August 17. On August 16, a ceremonial flight from Calcutta will land at Sonari airport.”

Officials of the Bangalore-based private airline said the non-scheduled flight would operate thrice a day depending on response. “We will introduce a small aircraft with turbo propeller and capacity to seat 18 passengers,” said a Deccan Charters official. A small aircraft is the only option since the existing runway is not equipped for a bigger one.

Sehgal said that while online booking of tickets was yet to start, the airline company would soon start issuing tickets from Sonari airport counter, the company’s contact centres and through travel agents. Fares will range between Rs 4,828 and Rs 5,553.

Officials at Tata Steel aviation department confirmed the plans.

Meanwhile, city executives and businessmen welcomed the move. “It is important for the steel city — an industrial hub — to have air connectivity. Moreover, XLRI often invites top corporate honchos to deliver lectures or recruit students and it is inconvenient for them in the absence of an air link,” said Suresh Sonthalia, the Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry general secretary.

Deccan Charters will be the third operator to launch a flight service in Jamshedpur. Earlier, Air Deccan, which merged with Kingfisher Airlines, and MDLR, had started flight services, but both withdrew last year, citing technical reasons.