Launch of Vijayawada-Singapore flight service delayed

Press Trust of India  |  Amaravati (AP) 

The much-anticipated direct flight between and may not take off this week as announced by the government.

When contacted, to the state Energy, Infrastructure and Investment Department A Chandrasekhar Reddy said "bookings will start" but the actual flight service might commence only in the first week of December.

Indigo, which has been chosen by the to operate the twice-a-week (Tuesdays and Thursdays) direct flight, said it has not yet finalised the schedule.

We are yet to finalise the dates. We would keep you informed as and when we start these flight services, a of told through an email.

A top of the AP Airports Development Corporation Limited said the winter schedule would kick-in after October 25 and many more time-consuming formalities may be required to be completed prior to the flight, indicating that the service might be delayed.

N Chandrababu Naidu has been very keen on launching a direct flight to from the state capital Amaravati.

The came forward to extend viability gap funding (VGF) to launch international flights from airport that falls under the state capital territory.

Airlines participating in the Centre's regional air connectivity scheme UDAN are extended VGF -- which is shared by the respective state government and the Centre -- as well as certain other incentives.

The had invited bids from and Indigo, the sole bidder, was given approval on September 10 to operate the service with a VGF of Rs 18.35 crore for six months.

The government set Rs 18,881 as indicative price (return fare) per seat and the VGF was accordingly worked out.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, October 24 2018. 17:40 IST