Fly directly from Madurai to Singapore, New Delhi
The wait is over:Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan launching Singapore flight service at Madurai airport on Friday. R. Gopalakrishnan, MP, and V.V. Rajan Chellappa, MLA, are seen.Photo: G. MoorthyG_Moorthy
Alliance Air to launch second Chennai flight service soon
Friday was a red-lettered day for Madurai airport. For, it got its first direct flight to Singapore with Air India Express, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India, launching its international service from Madurai. Besides, it also launched the first non-stop air connectivity to New Delhi from here.
This is the fourth international flight service from Madurai and Singapore is the third international destination after Colombo and Dubai.
Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan formally launched the Madurai-Singapore flight service by lighting a lamp and cutting a cake in the presence of MP R. Gopalakrishnan and MLA V.V. Rajan Chellappa.
The bookings in Madurai-Singapore sector was very encouraging, Air India, Regional Director, South, Capt. S. Arulmani told The Hindu.
Stating that the initial bookings for the flights in the sector was between 85% and 87%, he said AIE was looking to make the four-days-a-week service to daily service based on patronage. “We are not only looking at Singapore, but also planning to operate to Kuala Lumpur and the middle east from Madurai,” he added.
AIE is operating a Boeing 737-800 NG aircraft with a seating capacity of 186-189. Capt. Arulmani said that the patronage for the newly-launched Madurai-Chennai flight service by Alliance Air, another subsidiary of Air India, was very good. “We are planning a second flight service. As and when we receive additional aircraft, we will simultaneously launch second flight service to Tiruchi and Coimbatore also from Chennai,” he added.
Additional manpower
The Singapore flight also marked night operations from Madurai airport. “We have 24 additional Central Industrial Security Personnel for the round-the-clock operation. We also expect more for Airports Authority of India officials on deputation. We can handle many more night flights from Madurai hereafter,” he added.
Air India Express offers free baggage allowance of 20 kg on the Madurai-Singapore sector. The non-stop service between Madurai and Delhi will cut the travel time to three hours. The maiden flight IX 684 had 145 passengers, including a 25-member delegation from Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Its senior president S. Rethinavelu wanted AI Express to launch Madurai-Kuala Lumpur service with the Madurai-Singapore aircraft on the other three days of the week.
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