SHILLONG: Impressed with the response the Shillong-Kolkata flight service has received, IndiGo is now keen to increase the frequency of the flights.
Sanjeev Jindal, Executive Director, Airports Authority of India said IndiGo has expressed interest in adding more flights on the route but they do not have additional aircraft as of now.
“I have told them that even if they put two additional flights, they would still get many passengers as there is huge potential on this route,” he said.
IndiGo is currently operating a 72-seater ATR 72-600 aircraft on the Shillong-Kolkata route which has evoked good response from flyers.
According to Jindal, IndiGo is likely to extend the services within 4-5 months after availing additional aircraft.
Meanwhile, Jindal also said that under UDAN-4 top priority would be accorded to the North East and most cities in the region including Shillong would witness better air connectivity.
“The bidding for UDAN-4 will be done in January,” he said.
Earlier, Air Deccan was selected to operate from Shillong under the UDAN scheme but their contract was cancelled after they expressed their inability to continue with the service.
It may be mentioned that under the government’s UDAN regional connectivity scheme, air fares are capped at Rs 2,500 per person for an hour’s flight to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in which the government will provide subsidy for flying with such low fares.
