Winter schedule to see 30 per cent more flights

Domestic airlines will operate almost 30 per cent more flights from October this year than they operated in October last year. The planned increase in flights by the industry is the highest in the history of aviation, according to a report by Shishir Sinha in The Hindu Business Line. Besides, Puducherry will become the 83rd airport to get air connectivity with SpiceJet planning a daily flight from Chennai, during winter. Domestic airlines plan to operate 14,750 flights a week during the winter schedule. Globally, the winter schedule extends from the last Sunday of October every year till the last Saturday of March the following year. 

SpiceJet plans to use a 40 - 75 seater Canadian Regional Jet Q 400 aircraft to operate between Chennai and Puducherry. The launch of the flight may also be the beginning of regional service for the airline. According to Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) sources, there will be an almost 75 per cent increase in connectivity to Port Blair from various parts of the country. Domestic airlines plan to operate 75 weekly flights from the current 42 weekly flights to Port Blair. National Carrier, Air India plans to start direct flights to Port Blair from New Delhi, while low-cost carrier, GoAir plans provide connections to Port Blair from Chennai and Kolkata. Kingfisher has plans to fly from Bangalore and Kolkata to Port Blair. Agatti in Lakshwadeep, and Pantnagar are the cities scheduled to get more flights this winter schedule. Jet Airways is going to provide direct connectivity to Agartala from New Delhi. Currently Agartala can be reached via Kolkata or Guwahati only. “Airlines are very bullish. Bulk bookings by corporates are on the rise. Occasional travel by air is also increasing, and that is why airlines are planning to operate more flights during the winter schedule,” said a senior DGCA official.