SpiceJet to stop Mysore flights

While the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation is visiting Mysore this weekend to discuss expansion of the Mysore Mandakalli airport, here comes a dampner, a report in a section of the media SpiceJet is suspending operations.

According to a report, the airport authorities had received an SMS saying SpiceJet will halt its service from September 1. The message has been sent by the local agent of the airlines. This will mark the end of the lone commercial flight from the tourist city of Mysore.

This also comes as a blow on the eve of Dasara celebrations for which the state government and local officials were hoping to draw more tourists. The 10-day festivities are set to commence on September 25 and conclude on October 4 for which preparations have begun.

However, according to the airport officials, they are yet to receive an official communication from SpiceJet which is expected to follow soon.

The lone flight had a high occupancy rate, despite the odd arrival and departure timings. Recently, the timings were changed to 8.30 am from the original schedule of 2.40 pm arrival and 3.30 pm departure. This had affected the occupany rate, it is stated.

The Mandakalli Airport was upgraded in 2010 for about Rs 80 crore. However, for over a year it did not see regular flights till Kingfisher introduced the first commercial operations.

But, sometime later, it suspended its operations. Following efforts both by the state government and local industry associations, SpiceJet launched its services to Bangalore and Chennai last year January and was receiving good response too.

After Mysore-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha’s talks, Union Minister G M Siddeshwara is slated to visit Mysore on August 2-3 to discuss expansion of the Mysore Airport by taking up Phase II of the airport’s development, which will enable operation of bigger aircraft.

Mysore Industries Association (MIA) is also organising an interaction with Siddeshwara on August 2 to impress upon him the need to make the Mysore Airport functional and upgrade it to provide regular air services to the destination required across the country which will boost export and tourism of the region.

The MIA said, the organisation which represents 40,000 industries in Mysore, Mandya and Chamarajanagar districts, plans to boost exports from Mysore region and the foundation stone for the Mysore Export Centre was laid last month. Along with the proposed Mysore Export Centre, the existing Mysore Airport should be made functional and upgraded to provide regular air services to the required destinations.