Increase Flight Connectivity From Arunachal, Urges CM Khandu To Centre

Chief Minister Pema Khandu emphasized that the lack of daily flights limits accessibility for visitors and tourists, often necessitating alternative travel arrangements

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has urged the central government to increase flight connectivity from Donyi Polo Airport to bolster connectivity, tourism, and commerce in the state.

In a letter addressed to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Khandu highlighted that Donyi Polo Airport currently operates one flight each to Kolkata (six times weekly) and New Delhi (four times weekly). He noted that these flights consistently operate at full capacity, leading to significant spikes in travel costs and difficulty in securing tickets, particularly for urgent travel needs like medical emergencies.

Khandu emphasized that the lack of daily flights limits accessibility for visitors and tourists, often necessitating alternative travel arrangements. He pointed out specific challenges, such as long layovers when travelling from Itanagar to cities like Bhopal, Kochi, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru, which inconvenience passengers and increase travel times.

The Chief Minister also expressed disappointment over the discontinuation of flight services between Itanagar and Guwahati under the UDAN scheme since November 2023. He urged the Union Minister to increase flight services to New Delhi and Kolkata from Itanagar and reinstate the Itanagar-Guwahati route under the RCS-UDAN scheme.

In another correspondence addressed to Rahul Bhatia, Group Managing Director of IndiGo, Khandu requested an augmentation in flight frequencies, notably a morning departure from Itanagar to Delhi. He further sought direct flight connections from Itanagar to major cities such as Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.

Expressing appreciation to IndiGo for initiating flights from Donyi Polo Airport and establishing regular services to Kolkata and New Delhi, Khandu acknowledged the significant convenience this has brought to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring states. He assured IndiGo of full support from the state’s civil aviation department to enhance and expand their flight operations.

IndiGo has announced plans to commence daily flights between Itanagar and Kolkata starting July 31, effectively bridging the current gap in flight services on Wednesdays.

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