Flights to Shimla may resume in 15 days

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 4

Chances of resumption of flights to Shimla seem to have brightened after a gap of four-and-a-half years as a test flight of Alliance Air landed at the Jubbarhatti airport today, carrying high ranking officials from Air India, Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Civil Aviation.

The ATR-42 carrier landed at 11.20 am after which the team, including Managing Director, Air India, inspected the airport. After checking all the facilities at the Jubbarhatti airport, the officials returned to Delhi at about 12.30 pm. Dinesh Malhotra, Director, Tourism and Civil Aviation, along with other officials from the state government were present during the inspection and trial landing. There has been no scheduled flight from this airport since September 2012 and despite the best efforts of the state government, the state capital has been deprived of aerial connectivity. This has hit the high-end tourism as many tourists avoid arduous road journey for want of time and comfort.

“An Air India test flight with a 15-member team of high ranking officials from Delhi landed at the Jubbarhatti airport today,” confirmed Dinesh Malhotra. He said the team, including MD of Air India, inspected the airport which is fully operational along with re-fuelling facility.

Sources said the possibility of the resumption of a scheduled flight within the next 15 days is high. Shimla is hoping to get aerial connectivity under the Union Civil Aviation Ministry’s Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN (Ude Desh ka aam nagrik). Five airlines will operate on 128 routes under the regional connectivity scheme wherein fares are capped at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flight to the un-served and under-served airports.

Himachal has only three airports at Jubbarhatti in Shimla, Gaggal in Kangra and Bhuntar in Kullu. While flights from Kullu and Kangra have been operational, Shimla lacked the facility. The exceptionally high fare and absence of guaranteed traffic during off season have been some of the major deterrents.

Shimla Hoteliers Association has been demanding resumption of flights as air connectivity was essential to attract high-end tourists. The need for having flight was being felt even more as efforts to start helli-taxi services had failed. With exorbitant helli-taxi tariff, there were practically no takers. Moreover, the objection by the local Army authorities in allowing use of the Annandale Ground for parking helicopters was another hassle.

With near-absence of rail connectivity, the need for good and reliable aerial connectivity is being felt badly.