By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, July 20, 2018: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Friday urged Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu to restore Air India’s flight services from here to Bangkok and Bengaluru.

In a letter, Patnaik described the flight suspension as a severe jolt to the State’s tourism and aviation sectors.

On Tuesday, Air India – the flight service provider announced suspension of the flights from the Biju Patnaik International Airport here from July 16 till October 3 without citing any reasons.

“The abrupt suspension of the existing operations has been a severe jolt to the aviation and tourism sector in the state. Similarly the withdrawal of the domestic flight between Bangalore and Bhubaneswar has come as a setback for the IT industry in the state,” wrote Patnaik in his letter.

Patnaik in the letter requested Prabhu to take up the matter with the Air India management for resuming of the operations.

Besides, he also called upon Prabhu to explore more international operations from Bhubaneswar to other South East Asian countries considering the immense potential of these routes.

Air India started its international flight services from Bhubaneswar to Bangkok on December 10, 2017. The national carrier was to start operation to other destinations like Singapore, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.