VIJAYAWADA: After introducing flight services to Singapore from the Vijayawada International Airport, which will commence operation from December 4, the airport authorities are planning to launch direct services to Dubai. The officials, who had earlier initiated talks with Emirates officials for starting services to middle eastern countries, are planning to rope in international service providers for the same. They are in talks with various operators in this regard.
The airport officials are studying the viability of the route, viability gap funding (VGF) and seat-sharing arrangements. In fact, industrialists and businessmen from Krishna, Guntur and Amaravati region have been requesting to the Airport authorities to launch direct services to middle eastern countries.
Speaking to TNIE, Virender Singh, CEO APADCL, said, “The proposal for direct services to Arab countries is there for a long time. There are a few hurdles such as bilateral service permissions and VGF. Though Vijayawada airport got International status, the Centre didn’t permit us to operate bilateral flights, which operate from other countries. We hope to start direct flights to Dubai and other middle eastern countries sooner than later.”
Meanwhile, the industrialists and businessmen are requesting the officials to start cargo services to other countries. Speaking to Express, Potluri Bhaskar Rao, an industrialist, said, “We are glad to start services from Vijayawada to Singapore. The development of Amravati region is interlinked to the development of Vijayawada Airport, as transportation plays a vital role in the development of business.