The Hindu

Mangalore, Apr 27: All eyes are on the State Government which has been requested to provide an immigration counter at the Bajpe airport to facilitate the launch of the Air-India Express flight to Dubai. Air India Express is a low-cost airline of Air India.

Any delay in setting up an immigration counter will come in the way of starting the service. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) cannot permit the service if the counter is not set up as per BCAS (Bureau of Civil Aviation Security) guidelines.

A three-member team of senior officials of Air India, which arrived here on Monday, has reportedly told the AAI that after the State Government assures that it will set up immigration facilities at the airport, Air India will require two weeks to finalise preparations for introducing the flight. The team inspected facilities at the airport.

Air-India Express has proposed that its flight from Dubai will arrive at the Bajpe airport at 8.20 pm and leave for Dubai at 9.20 pm.

Air India had planned to operate the service from May 7 if immigration and customs counters were ready. As the immigration counter has not been set up, it may not be possible to operate the flight as per plan.

But sources said that if the Government made it clear by May 1 that it would set up an immigration counter, the flight could be introduced by May 14 or May 21. If it was delayed till June, the AAI would have to evolve a plan to separate domestic and international flight operations in view of the commencement of the monsoon season, sources added.

Air-India Express plans to use a Boeing 737-800 for the Dubai-Mangalore flight.

Sources said that a team of senior officials of the Department of Customs visited the airport on Monday and extended cooperation to set up a customs counter at the airport.

Vinay Kumar, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure, and Sudhakar Rao, Principal Secretary, Home Affairs, are likely to visit the airport on Thursday in connection with the setting up of the immigration counter.