MP: Inter-state air taxi service to begin from August

Air Odisha Aviation Private Ltd plans to launch air taxi services from Indore to Jaipur and Ahmedabad in August.

Air Odisha Aviation Private Ltd plans to launch air taxi services from Indore to Jaipur and Ahmedabad in August.

At present, there are 21 flights from Indore daily. (Mujeeb Faruqui/HT file)

Later, it will extend service to Shridi and Jabalpur in October.

Air Odisha has tied up with Gujarat-based GSEC for air taxi services. The company had earlier planned to launch flights from July but the launch was postponed.

GSEC director Shaishav Shah said some formalities need to be completed and operations will start from August. After receiving approval from Directorate General of Civil Aviation, the company has drawn up the schedule.

At present, there are 21 flights from Indore daily and Jet Airways, Air India and Indigo operate from the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar airport.

Supreme Transport Aviation, which had earlier planned to launch air taxi services from May 9, is now redrawing its plans after losing possession of a Cessna aircraft after expiry of lease agreement.

GSEC, which cancelled its lease with Supreme Transport Aviation, is providing a nine-seater Cessna aircraft on lease to Air Odisha.

In December 2015, MP Tourism Development Corporation cancelled its contract providing subsidy to flights operated by Supreme Transport Aviation. Supreme Aviation had planned to connect 12 cities with Indore and Bhopal. It had also planned inter-state operations on Nagpur and Agra routes. The contract was cancelled following inordinate delay in getting the DGCA approval.