Guwahati, May 1: Flybig, in association with the Assam government, on Monday launched its services on the Guwahati-Dibrugarh-Guwahati route, which is the first flight on a non-UDAN route under the state’s viability gap funding (VGF) scheme.
Assam tourism minister Jayanta Malla Baruah flagged off the inaugural flight between Guwahati and Dibrugarh from the LGBI Airport here with 64 passengers on-board the aircraft.
Notably, the flight will depart for Dibrugarh from the LGBI Airport here at 9.35am everyday and arrive here from Dibrugarh at 4.30pm on the same day.
Addressing mediapersons later, the tourism minister said that Flybig would also operate another flight service between Guwahati and Silchar from May 15 onwards.
“This is a significant day for the tourism sector of Assam. Along with the Guwahati-Dibrugarh-Guwahati and Guwahati-Silchar-Guwahati routes, we are contemplating operation of flight services between Guwahati-Jorhat-Guwahati with the same VGF provision in the near future, which will provide a further boost to the tourist footfall to Kaziranga,” the minister said.
According to official sources, Flybig will be supported by Assam Tourism Development Corporation Limited (ATDCL) through VGF funding and weekly operation of flights in both the sectors will be decided mutually by both the parties.
It may be recalled that ATDCL had, on behalf of the state government, inked MoU with Big Charter Private Limited (Flybig) in March for the launch of air services in the non-UDAN section in the Guwahati-Dibrugarh-Guwahati and Guwahati-Silchar-Guwahati routes on a daily basis.
“Fares have been capped at Rs 4500, which will be the maximum rate on these two routes. The minimum rates could go down considerably,” the tourism minister said.
Throwing light on the VGF provision, Baruah said the Assam government would, in accordance with the scheme, provide Rs 4000 against each passenger if there are less than 40 passengers in a single flight on these two non-UDAN routes.
“We have kept Rs 5 crore in this year’s state Budget to meet this VGF provision on these two routes. If necessary, more funds will be earmarked for the VGF provision with additional routes on the anvil,” the minister said, while thanking Flybig for boosting connectivity in the Northeast by operating in as many as 24 routes in the region.
