Purbayan’s air service from April 15
SHILLONG: With little coming from the government by way of initiative, Meghalaya is now depending on a self-help group to provide aerial connectivity to its remote corners. This group will launch air service from Umroi and Balijek airports from April 15.
CEO of Purbayan Airlines Koushik Biswas informed on Sunday that they will operate services on the Guwahati – Shillong – Tura route. Later, they would also introduce a service between Shillong and Silchar.
Replying to a query on fares, he said that the fares would be around Rs 3000 on the Shillong route.
The airline authorities would, however, have to hold talks with the Meghalaya Government to grant permission to land their aircraft at Baljek airport in Tura, Biswas said. The services, if introduced, would come as a welcome relief to air passengers in the State.
At present, there is only one air service operating between Umroi airport in Shillong and Kolkata, that too an ATR aircraft. Larger aircraft cannot operate because the extension of the runway is delayed. The Balijek airport in distant Tura 1) has no commercial service at all.
The self-help group is currently plying on the Guwahati-Silchar and Guwahati -Imphal routes and the group claims that they have got a good response from the people. It will operate nine-seater sky fisher aircraft. An official of sky fisher aircraft said it was one of the safest aircraft and was being used even in difficult terrains. The sky fisher aircraft need a maximum of 2,000 feet runways for take-off and landing.
Purbayan is a tour and travels company which started operations in 2013, running night super buses between Assam and Meghalaya. Currently it operates a fleet of 25 buses.