The intra-state air connectivity service was started by Maritime Energy Heli Air Services (MEHAIR), which entered into an agreement with the Gujarat Civil Aviation Ministry in November 2014 to start such a service in the state using light aircraft capable of carrying nine passengers.
Speaking on the occasion, Patel said that Gujarat has maximum number of airports in the country and today's flight is the first step to connect different cities in the region by air.
Along with Porbandar, flights for Jamnagar and Bhuj from Ahmedabad also commenced from here, according to an official release.
Out of these smaller cities, Ambaji and Palitana are well known pilgrimage places, while Dahej and Ankleshwar have large industrial clusters.
"There is immense scope for this sector. It will increase mobility of domestic as well as international tourists, who wish to visit these places and boost tourism as well as economic growth in Gujarat," Patel said.
