He told reporters here Thursday: 'The Fly Dubai airline intends to start international operations from Chandigarh airport from the third week of July 2009. But they have been denied permission by the Indian Air Force authorities...'

He added that the reason for the denial was the ATC watch hours till 8 p.m. 'irrespective of the sunset timings'. The Fly Dubai flight would land at 11.30 p.m. and leave an hour later at 12.30 a.m., the chief minister said.

'The ministry of external affairs had acknowledged the same to the embassy of the United Arab Emirates. The extension of ATC hours would fulfil the long pending demand of the state to start international flights from Chandigarh,' Badal said.