“Flydubai had planned to begin operations to India with flights to Lucknow on July 13, Coimbatore on July 14 and Chandigarh on July 23. However, due to operational issues, we have had to delay these flights,” Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai chief executive officer said  on Friday.

Al Ghaith said all  passengers who have booked flights to India will be contacted within the next few days and will be given a full refund, plus a voucher for a free return flight to India or anywhere on the flydubai network. The voucher will be valid until the end of November 2009.

Last week, flydubai said it was still trying to work out the “final few pieces” of the service it plans to start in Chandigarh, India.

Flydubai had planned its inaugural flight to Chandiragh on July 23, but was reportedly refused permission by the Indian Air Force, which controls the airport. Indian media suggested that India’s Civil Aviation Ministry, which regulates passenger flights in that country, was unable to persuade the air force to let flydubai schedule late-night flights.

·         rocel@khaleejtimes.com