International flight movements from Tiruchi are set to rise with the Air India Express deciding to operate a new service from Tiruchi to Sharjah next month.
Air India has already conveyed the information regarding operation of its new service in the Tiruchi – Sharjah sector to the airport authorities here. The airline will start a daily service to Sharjah from September 15 onwards, Tiruchi airport sources said. The single service to Sharjah will be operated in the early hours from Tiruchi airport which has witnessed an upswing in overseas passenger and freight movements over the years.
Air India’s decision to launch a new service comes at a time when there have been persistent demands from the travellers of the central region seeking direct flight connectivity to more West Asian destinations from Tiruchi. Presently, Dubai is the lone West Asian destination which is directly connected to Tiruchi with Air India Express operating a daily service.
Amid heavy demand for more operation of flight services to major West Asian destinations, the Tiruchi airport authorities a couple of months ago made a strong pitch to Air India authorities to operate flight services to Sharjah and Kuwait from Tiruchi.
Although there were flight services in the Tiruchi – Abu Dhabi, Tiruchi – Sharjah and Tiruchi – Kuwait sectors a few years ago, they were all withdrawn much to the discontent of the travel industry and passengers. A huge chunk of workforce from the central region and southern districts are employed in various places in West Asia. The absence of overseas flight services to key West Asian destinations from Tiruchi has necessitated passengers to travel via Chennai airport or from airports in Kerala or travel to Colombo from Tiruchi for onward connectivity to countries in West Asia.
Airport sources strongly feel that overseas passenger movements at Tiruchi airport would rise with the Air India deciding to operate a new service to Sharjah.
