Direct flights Singapore-Shirdi soon

10/1/2019

PUNE (MUMBAI): The central government is planning to connect small and big cities with air services. In Maharashtra also, priority has been given to start air service under this scheme. According to Principal secretary of civil aviation Valsa Nair-Singh, civil aviation department will shortly launch International Air Service from important cities like Aurangabad, Shirdi, Nagpur.

Valsa Nair-Singh said that there are international airports at both Aurangabad and Nagpur which can be used for twelve months. No international direct flights from Aurangabad. Therefore, the passengers of Marathwada have to travel to Mumbai or Pune. If international airlines start from this area directly, it will certainly benefit domestic and International tourists also. It will also help in bringing higher foreign investment to these cities. Considering this, air service to Bangkok and Tokyo is being started from Aurangabad. Tender will be invited soon from the airline companies. 

Pilgrimage tourism is an important industry in Maharashtra. If you start international flights from cities like Shirdi, Nanded, Kolhapur, then devotees from abroad will visit these cities also. Shirdi Airport has recently started its operations. From there, the necessary facilities are available for international air services. Shirdi to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur flights will be rolled out shortly. Besides, Nagpur-Singapore flight will be started and proposals will be invited for this.

Tender for Kolhapur, Pune, Jalgaon

The Kolhapur-Mumbai service was started under the Regional Air Service scheme.  However, Air Deccan company, which operated flights on this route, discontinued its services. Air Deccan also provided service on Pune-Mumbai, Jalgaon-Mumbai route and in other parts of the country. But their service have been discontinued due to complaints received against Air Deccan by Civil Aviation Ministry. An agreement with the new airline will be renewed in the new tender again for Kolhapur, Pune, Jalgaon.

Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri will continue to operate

The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has given the permissions necessary to start a passenger flight from Chipi airport in Sindhudurg district. Flight operations will start from here by the end of January. Apart from this, the work to increase the runway of Ratnagiri airport is being done through the Coast Guard. The talks with the Coast Guard have also led to the landing of passenger planes on the runway. Chippi and Ratnagiri air service will be operational very soon, secretary Nair-Singh said.