AI discontinues Bangkok flight

Akash Ghai

Tribune News Service

Mohali, September 15

Around nine months after starting its direct flight to Bangkok, the Air India has discontinued its operations from the Chandigarh international airport here.

MR Jindal, station manager of Air India here, told Chandigarh Tribune that the flight to Bangkok had been permanently discontinued. “I have received a communiqué in this regard from the higher authorities,” said Jindal.

A decision in this regard was said to be taken during a meeting held at Delhi recently.

Notably, the Chandigarh-Bangkok flight was suspended in mid-July and the aircraft (A320neo) was being used for Haj flights.

Earlier, the airline had planned to resume the flight operations (Chandigarh-Bangkok) on October 1.

Sources said the national carrier decided to discontinue the international flight after finding it commercially unviable. “The flight was not generating revenue up to the expectations,” claimed the sources, adding that the airline also wanted some other timeslot and a parking bay, which they did not get.

When contacted, the spokesperson of the Chandigarh international airport claimed that they (the airport authorities) had no official information on the development. “We have no official word in this regard,” said the spokesperson.

The flight was being operated four times a week before it was suspended. The Air India had started the flight on December 12 last year.

With the Bangkok flight being discontinued, Chandigarh has direct air-connectivity with Sharjah and Dubai.