SpiceJet, the only flight operator from Puducherry, has sought assistance from the Puducherry government to make its operations sustainable.
A team led by the regional deputy sales manager Ravi called on Welfare and Tourism Minister P Rajavelu in this regard.
With the average occupancy rate being 30 to 35 per cent for the SpiceJet flights connecting Puducherry and Bangalore, the aviation company is looking forward to fly government officials from Puducherry. For this, the Puducherry government has to get a clearance from the Government of India.
The flight journey of government officials could give the much needed boost to passenger traffic, sources said.
Another aspect being approval for airlifting cargo from the Puducherry Airport by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). This would also bring in ancillary revenue for the operator and it needed to be pursued, sources said.
Operators feel that there are prospects for airlifting 300 kg from Puducherry and its surrounding areas per day. The AAI can perhaps look at waiving the licence fee for the office of the operator in the airport considering the fact that the UT Government had already given electricity and water tariff exemptions, sources added.
Chief Minister had already written to Government of India in this regard, but there has been no response yet.