Shillong , Apr 3: The Meghalaya High Court has ordered issuing of fresh notice to Zoom Airliners regarding operation of CRJ 200 from Delhi to Umroi airport.

The division bench which comprised of Chief Justice, Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice H.S. Thangkhiew in an order passed on Wednesday said, “…fresh notice may be sent to the Zoom Airliners for their response regarding operation of CRJ 200 from Delhi to Umroi and back.”

From the submission of Additional Solicitor General, A. Paul, it is gatherable that Zoom Air may agree to operate provided that they are given the Kolkata-Shillong-Kolkata RCS Sector which will help them in meeting their extra expenses in operating directly from Delhi to Umroi Airport.

She has further informed that in the previous meeting, the representative of Zoom Airliners could not appear as he was out of Delhi and therefore, one week’s time may be granted to enable the authorities to work out the modalities with Zoom Air.

During the hearing, counsel respectively appearing for Spice Jet, Indigo as well as Air India made it clear that as on date there is no plan to operate their flights to Umroi because of commercial difficulties, however, they have not closed its door, they are still thinking over it.

“Be that as it may, since Zoom Air operates CRJ 200, at the first instance let the Airport Authority of India and Civil Aviation Ministry work out modalities with them, therefore, one week’s time as sought is granted for doing the needful,” the bench said in its order.

It has further directed the Amicus Curiae to file his response against the two affidavits filed by the Airport Authority of India and Civil Aviation Ministry before next hearing to be held on April 10.

The two separate affidavits have revealed that a meeting has been held with the concerned stake holders.

Concern has been shown about commercial viability for operating ATR 72. The Zoom Air has not participated in the meeting, but conveyed that Zoom operates CRJ 200 which has a weight penalty when landing and taking off.

They had a bid for Kolkata-Shillong-Kolkata RCS Sector with an aim of integrating this into their existing network, however, route was not awarded to Zoom Air, and operating at Shillong without RCS support is not commercially viable for Zoom Air in view of the load penalty.

In the affidavit, it was also stated that the Chairperson requested the airliners to explore the possibility of operating flights from Delhi to Shillong and back based on their technical and financial viability.