flydubai dismisses Indian flights stalemate reports

flydubai on Sunday revealed talks with Indian aviation authorities over flights to Chandigarh Airport are ongoing, dismissing speculation that the two parties have reached a stalemate.

Reports in India claimed that Dubai’s budget carrier had been denied permission by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to land in Chandigarh at night time.

No civilian planes are allowed to arrive at the hub, which is controlled by the IAF, after 10pm, newspapers added.

They also said flydubai officials were hoping the Chandigarh service would reach the city around 11pm, outside the IAF’s curfew.

But a spokesperson for the airline told Arabian Business on Sunday that the reports were inaccurate.

“flydubai has been granted the rights to fly to Chandigarh based on the agreement between the governments of India and the UAE," a flydubai statement said.

"The final few pieces of the operation are being worked out now and we do not anticipate any issues that cannot be resolved.

"We’re the first international carrier to fly to Chandigarh, so that means there is a little more coordination needed. flydubai is excited about operating the first international flight to Chandigarh and we are working closely with the authorities to make this historic event a success.”

Since launching in June, flydubai has introduced flights to Beirut, Amman, Damascus and Alexandria and Aleppo.

It is also expected to launch services to Lucknow, Coimbatore, as well as Chandigarh, later this month.

The airline plans to operate between 14 and 16 destinations by the end of 2009.

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