Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
There has been a long wait for international flight services from Chikalthana International Airport. AirAsia Airlines had shown readiness to start a flight service to Bangkok 10 months ago. However, they are still waiting for approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs for the Immigration Checkpost (ICP). It is now being speculated that this international flight service might begin only in the winter season.
Air Asia's team had visited Chikalthana Airport in May last year. They inspected the facilities at the airport intending to start a flight service to Bangkok. The company had shown readiness to begin the international flight service in October. However, the issue regarding immigration clearance remained unresolved, causing a delay in the launch of the service. Once the immigration issue at the airport is resolved, AirAsia is expected to start the Bangkok flight service within at least two to three months.
In the next two to three months, the counter at the airport will be set up, and planning for the necessary manpower and facilities for the flight service will be done. The flight service will be made available for online booking. Even if immigration approval is granted now, due to the required preparations taking approximately three months and considering the monsoon season, the flight service will likely take off in the winter. The necessary immigration facilities have been set up at the airport, and the issue is still pending at the Ministry of Home Affairs level, said the sources.
ICP approval mandatory
According to the President of ATDF’s Civil Aviation Committee Sunit Kothari, "Approval for the Immigration Checkpost (ICP) is essential for the Bangkok flight service to begin. Therefore, Chikalthana Airport must receive approval for the ICP before the international flight service can commence."