Udan: Flying to towns remains a non-starter
Flights Between City, Salem Only Active Service
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai 14.04.2019
Though Airports Authority of India(AAI) has readied Neyveli and Vellore airstrips for flight operations, the ministry is yet to decide on giving the go-ahead to airlines to begin flight opearations. Under the Udan scheme, the state has only a Chennai-Salem service. Flights are yet to begin services to Neyveli, Vellore, Hosur and Thanjavur which should have begun by now.
The ministry is delaying the decision because of the upcoming elections while flying to small towns on non-Udan flights introduced by IndiGo and Spicejet to destinations in other states has become expensive with fares higher than the metro routes.
"The airports are almost ready as basic facilities are in place. The airlines need to take a decision to bring in their staff and start services. The airlines which have won the bids are not ready to start operations while low cost carriers who are looking at routes to small towns have also not shown interest," said an official of Airports Authority of India (AAI).
This has prevented flight services from taking off within the state. Barring Salem and Tuticorin, there are no flights connecting small towns. The ministry of civil aviation was looking at boosting air connectivity by opening Neyveli, Vellore, Thanjavur, Hosur but without success. Air Odisha which got the routes to Neyveli is yet to start flights.
Air travel to Tuticorin and Salem continue to be expensive. A Chennai-Tuticorin fligh costs ₹3,000 to ₹3,350 even when booked a month in advance while the Chennai-Salem flight when booked in a month in advance costs ₹2,070. “There is demand for flights to smaller towns because people who are into trade and small industries prefer to return the same day than take a train. This sort pf demand is also pushing the fare higher than the rates stipulated for regional flights,” he added. Meanwhile, low cost carriers have started flights connecting Chennai with far off small towns in other states. These non-Udan flights continue to be expensive. A Chennai – Lucknow IndiGo flight in May is already selling at ₹4,300 which is more expensive than a Chennai-Delhi flight.
Flights Between City, Salem Only Active Service
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai 14.04.2019
Though Airports Authority of India(AAI) has readied Neyveli and Vellore airstrips for flight operations, the ministry is yet to decide on giving the go-ahead to airlines to begin flight opearations. Under the Udan scheme, the state has only a Chennai-Salem service. Flights are yet to begin services to Neyveli, Vellore, Hosur and Thanjavur which should have begun by now.
The ministry is delaying the decision because of the upcoming elections while flying to small towns on non-Udan flights introduced by IndiGo and Spicejet to destinations in other states has become expensive with fares higher than the metro routes.
"The airports are almost ready as basic facilities are in place. The airlines need to take a decision to bring in their staff and start services. The airlines which have won the bids are not ready to start operations while low cost carriers who are looking at routes to small towns have also not shown interest," said an official of Airports Authority of India (AAI).
This has prevented flight services from taking off within the state. Barring Salem and Tuticorin, there are no flights connecting small towns. The ministry of civil aviation was looking at boosting air connectivity by opening Neyveli, Vellore, Thanjavur, Hosur but without success. Air Odisha which got the routes to Neyveli is yet to start flights.
Air travel to Tuticorin and Salem continue to be expensive. A Chennai-Tuticorin fligh costs ₹3,000 to ₹3,350 even when booked a month in advance while the Chennai-Salem flight when booked in a month in advance costs ₹2,070. “There is demand for flights to smaller towns because people who are into trade and small industries prefer to return the same day than take a train. This sort pf demand is also pushing the fare higher than the rates stipulated for regional flights,” he added. Meanwhile, low cost carriers have started flights connecting Chennai with far off small towns in other states. These non-Udan flights continue to be expensive. A Chennai – Lucknow IndiGo flight in May is already selling at ₹4,300 which is more expensive than a Chennai-Delhi flight.
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