Dehradun: Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday formally flagged off the new air service being started by Air India Express from Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun to Dehradun-Bengaluru. On this occasion, the Chief Minister described it as an important achievement towards the overall development of the state and expansion of air connectivity.
Today, with this new initiative in Uttarakhand, the country’s first international value carrier Air India Express has started operations with the launch of daily direct flights from Dehradun Airport to Bengaluru. MP Smt. Mala Rajyalakshmi Shah, Doiwala MLA Brij Bhushan Gairola, Managing Director of Air India Express Alok Singh and CEO of Uttarakhand Civil Aviation Development Authority, IAS, Ashish Chauhan were also present on the occasion. Welcoming Air India Express to Uttarakhand, Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami said: “The launch of Air India Express services from Dehradun is a significant milestone for civil aviation in our state. Better connectivity to Bengaluru will greatly boost tourism, business and investment opportunities in Uttarakhand, as well as strengthen ties for students, professionals and entrepreneurs with one of the most dynamic cities in India. We welcome Air India Express and look forward to the positive impact this connectivity will have on our people and economy.” The Chief Minister said that Air India Express’ direct air service between Dehradun and Bengaluru will prove to be a great convenience for the youth, entrepreneurs, IT professionals, students and tourists of Uttarakhand. He said that Bengaluru is the technological capital of the country and thousands of youth from Uttarakhand are employed there in education, service and startup sectors. Now they will get a more convenient, timely and safe option to travel to and from the state. Chief Minister Dhami said that the state government has taken many major decisions from policy level to infrastructure to strengthen air connectivity in the last few years. Today, regional airports like Pithoragarh, Chinyalisaur, Gauchar, Naini Saini are being activated in the state, while Jolly Grant Airport is being equipped with international level facilities. He also informed that the work of expansion of Pantnagar Airport is going on rapidly, which will be a big transformational step for the Kumaon region.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister said that the objective of the government is to connect Uttarakhand with fast and accessible connectivity by air, rail and road, which will not only boost tourism but will also create new opportunities for investment, business and employment in the state. He informed that the state government is providing necessary support and encouragement to airlines companies under the “Air Connectivity Improvement Project”.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister thanked Air India Express and said that they have started this service by understanding the needs of Uttarakhand. While wishing the passengers, he expressed hope that this service will prove beneficial in the long run and in future the number of flights connecting Uttarakhand with other major metros will also increase.
Speaking on the occasion, Alok Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express said: “We are delighted to commence operations from Dehradun, our 58th station. We are launching daily direct flights to our largest domestic hub, Bengaluru. This is the third new station launched this month after Ahmedabad and Chandigarh, underlining the rapid expansion of our network. This new route not only connects Uttarakhand directly to the economic and educational hubs of Bengaluru, but also offers convenient one-stop connections to 18 more cities across India. With our fleet now comprising over 115 aircraft, we are building a stronger, more accessible network that reflects the aspirations of modern India.”
The Chief Minister also inspected various facilities of the airport and gave necessary directions to the concerned officials.
Air India Express informed that the first Dehradun-Bengaluru flight departed from Dehradun at 16:30 and reached Bengaluru at 19:30. With this launch, passengers from Dehradun can avail convenient one-stop connectivity to 18 destinations including Chennai, Goa, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mangaluru, North Goa, Pune, Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam via Bengaluru.
Air India Express informed that as part of Air India Express’ ‘Tales of India’ initiative honouring the diverse art and culture of the country, the new Boeing 737-8 aircraft deployed to operate the first flight from Dehradun, proudly displays a tale art inspired by ‘Aipan’, a form of traditional floor and wall art of Uttarakhand.
He informed that apart from network expansion, Air India Express has recently launched its ‘Book Direct’ campaign, which encourages passengers to book directly on its award-winning website www.airindiaexpress.com and mobile app for the best fares and seamless booking experience. Passengers who book directly can avail up to 20% discount with promo codes and bank offers, net banking payment on app and website।
