Alphons seeks more flights to tourist spots

Union Tourism Minister K J Alphons suggested the civil aviation ministry today to provide better air connectivity to tourist destinations by introducing more flights to such regions, a statement said.

Alphons held a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu and his deputy, Jayanta Sinha, along with officials from both the ministries regarding the issue, the statement from the tourism ministry said.

The tourism minister requested daily Air India flights to Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, better connectivity to Aurangabad, Maharashtra, for accessing Ajanta-Ellora caves. He also asked for triangular flights on Kochi-Goa-Jaipur sector, international flights from Kozhikode and flights to Southeast Asian countries from Guwahati Airport, the tourism ministry statement said.

The minister sought the commissioning of Kannur airport in Kerala; direct flights from Delhi to Kozhikode, from Ahmedabad and Kolkata to Srinagar; daily flights from Kolkata to Shillong; more flights to Varanasi and opening of the new airport in Sikkim, the statement said.

He also requested for more flights to Jindal airport for better access to Hampi in Karnataka, it said.

It was agreed that Ministry of Civil Aviation will take immediate action in consultation with air operators to provide better connectivity. The ministry would underwrite any loss-making route, if it is not already covered under the Udan scheme, which could be extended to all the underserved destinations at the earliest, it added.

Udan ('Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik') is a regional airport development and regional connectivity scheme of the Centre, aimed at making air travel affordable and widespread, to boost inclusive national economic development, job growth and air transport infrastructure development of all regions and states.