FlyBig to operate 19-seater between Arunachal and Assam till regular flights resume

FlyBig Airlines

Two days after FlyBig Airlines announced it was temporarily suspending its operations across the Northeast, the regional carrier said on November 17 a 19-seater aircraft will be deployed on the routes connecting Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

“FlyBig Airlines has taken a decisive step to keep essential aerial services running for Arunachal Pradesh's residents by deploying 19-seater Twin Otter aircraft on the disrupted routes connecting Tezu and Hollongi with Guwahati and Rupsi,” the airline said in a release.

“This provisional action is implemented to fill the void until a new aircraft is obtained, with the aim to return to regular service by the first week of January 2024.”

FlyBig connects tier-II cities and offers services on routes secured under the Centre’s UDAN regional aviation scheme. The airline had started flights between Hollongi and Guwahati earlier this year. After the launch of this service, the state government stopped the chopper service between Naharlagun and Guwahati. With the suspension of both the chopper and flight services, flyers, especially those awaiting treatment, found themselves stranded.

The airline's aircraft are undergoing maintenance in Kolkata and Hyderabad and as a result, services connecting Hollongi-Guwahati, Guwahati-Pasighat, and Guwahati-Tezu have been suspended till January 2024.

The company had to pause operations due to engine component supply chain problems, FlyBig CEO Sanjay Mandavia said, adding efforts were on to address the issues and return the service to normal.

Airline CFO Gokul Indani told the Hindu Business Line that FlyBig decided to surrender the ATR (Avions de Transport Régional) aircraft due to technical issues.

“We were expecting the delivery of bigger aircraft and had hoped to put them into service, especially in the Hollongi-Guwahati sector... But unfortunately, we have not received the aircraft, and our existing aircraft are undergoing major maintenance,” an Arunachal Times report quoted a FlyBig official as saying.

The airline has assured that it is “actively engaged with relevant authorities, including the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), to navigate the current operational challenges."

Passengers have been told to reach out to FlyBig Airlines' customer support for assistance with rescheduling, refunds, and any other inquiries.