Friday, September 15, 2017

AIE to fly to Singapore from today

tnn | Updated: Sep 14, 2017, 23:01 IST

Friday will be a red letter day for Madurai international airport when Air India Express launches the first direct flight to Singapore. The service which operates four days a week also connects Madurai and Delhi, a first direct connection to the nation's capital.

Flight (IX-163) originating from New Delhi at 7 pm will reach Madurai at 10.15 pm. It will depart from Madurai as flight IX-684 at 11.15 pm and reach Singapore at 6.15 am. In the return direction, flight IX-683 will depart from Singapore at 10.40 am and reach Madurai at 12.25 pm. IX-164 will depart from Madurai at 1.50 pm and reach New Delhi at 4.40 pm.

While an inaugural event with the customary water cannon salute has been planned, passengers of the first flight to the Southeast Asian nation would be presented flowers and sweets. A group of enthusiasts who maintain a facebook fan page for the airport are planning to celebrate it in their own humble way by presenting the passengers a memento and greeting card. "It is a big day for Madurai airport. We will present a key chain and greeting cards highlighting the modernity of Singapore and culturally-rich Madurai," said Mohammed Mustafa.

This is only the third international connectivity for Madurai after flights to Dubai and Colombo. According to tour operators, it is expected to get good patronage from the people of South Tamil Nadu who are either settled or are working in Singapore besides those looking for cheap international destinations. Apart from this, the service will also help to boost industrial development given the fact that Madurai-Tuticorin industrial corridor is expected to take off shortly.

Members of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who played an important role in pushing for the service, are celebrating it in their own way. A 25-member trade delegation of TNCCI will visit Singapore on the first flight. They will sign a memorandum of understanding with Singapore Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry to improve two-way trade and investments.

According to Air India officials, many industrialists and industry bodies have been invited to the inaugural function scheduled on Friday at 7 pm. Apart from them, a couple of elected representatives from Madurai and officials like regional passport officer Maniswara Raja have also been invited to the event, said airport manager, Air India, A Shahjehan.

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