Visakhapatnam: Vizag MP K Haribabu held a meeting with various airline operators, airport director and members of AP Air Travellers’ Association (APATA) on Saturday to study the impact on civil aircraft movements after the Navy’s decision to restrict civilian flights for military sorties at the Visakhapatnam international airport from November. In an effort to assess and minimise the impact of military slots on civilian flights and to find a solution for coexistence, opinions were expressed and deliberated at the meeting.Jet Airways informed that it has withdrawn two of its flights — a 9.50 am daily flight (Delhi-Vizag-Mumbai) and a 8.30 pm flight (Mumbai-Vizag-Delhi) due to the proposed restrictions, while Air Asia said two of its daily flights — (Bengaluru-Vizag-Bengaluru) at 11 am and 9.10 pm — might be hit.Indigo, as per current schedule, flies six daily flights to the city which might get affected. These include (Hyderabad-Vizag-Chennai) at 12.10 pm, (Kolkata-Vizag-Kolkata) at 12.40 pm, and (Hyderabad-Vizag-Hyderabad) at 1 pm. Indigo officials said plans to reschedule flights and add new destinations have been kept on hold as of now.The Air India station manager said 12 of their flight movements may get affected, including four Delhi-Vizag-Port Blair flights and eight Port Blair-Vizag-Delhi flights. Sri Lankan airlines flight (Colombo-Vizag-Colombo) at 10.10 am will be affected and a representative from the planning department informed that if the uncertainties continue, they will have to discontinue their service in the city. Other airline operators including Spicejet and Air Odisha too expressed discontent.O Naresh Kumar, president of Vizag Development Council and chairman of Tours and Travels Association, said: “To minimise the inconvenience, the Navy can ideally use the 3 pm to 5 pm slot so that the impact on civilian movement is minimal.” He added that most airlines have to submit their winter schedule by July 10. “If the confusion prevails, the airline operators will not be able to decide on rescheduling their flights.”Haribabu said he will soon convene a meeting with the Eastern Naval Command chief to deliberate on the issue further.

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