MYSORE: Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation G M Siddeshwara on Saturday said that the operation of flights will be ensured during Dasara season.
‘‘I will hold talks with SpiceJet, which announced its discontinuation of service from September 1,” he said.
Talking to reporters in the city, he said he will discuss the matter with Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapthi Raju who is expected to arrive in the city for inspection of the airport on Sunday.
Later, addressing industrialists, he said it will become difficult for any operator to operate flights with 20-30 per cent occupancy and with higher tax on fuel.
The state has imposed the highest tax on fuel with 29 per cent. It is less in states like Tamil Nadu (4 per cent) and Gujarat (12 per cent). Since 50 per cent of cost of flight operation goes towards fuel, it will be a huge burden if the tax is high. All private operators and Air India have requested to cut down the tax on fuel, he said.
He said he has also spoken with Gajapathi Raju on connecting Mysore with different cities like Mumbai, Hyderabad, Belgaum, Hubli and others.
‘Improvement of All Airports in State’
He said the Centre has planned to improve air connectivity to all tier-2 and tier-3 cities of the country and it will take atleast a year-and-half to two years to achieve it.
“Efforts are on to improve infrastructure in all airports in the state. Expansion works of some has stopped as contractors have abandoned it, citing losses,” he added.
With regard to expansion of Mysore airport, he said PWD Minister H C Mahadevappa has stated that the highway would be diverted to make way for expansion.
Cut Tax on Fuel: MP
Earlier, MP Pratap Simha requested the state government to cut down the tax on fuel from present 29 per cent instead of blaming the Centre for flight discontinuation.