The city’s air connectivity with the rest of India continues to remain grounded even as the local start-ups in the airline industry have ignored Mysuru whose long wait for the re-launch of commercial flights continues without any respite.
In the latest setback, the Bengaluru-based regional carrier, Air Pegasus, which secured permission to operate from the Director General of Civil Aviation this week, has ignored Mysuru in its flight plans and will instead fly to Hubbali and Thiruvananthapuram.
Mysuru fell off the air map of India during October last year when SpiceJet, which was the sole service provider, withdrew operations citing lack of patronage. However, local airport officials averred that air passenger traffic originating from Mysuru was very encouraging and SpiceJet’s withdrawal from Mysuru was part of re-jigging their fleet schedule.
Prior to SpiceJet providing air connectivity for a hop-on flight from Bengaluru to other destinations, Kingfisher provided a similar service before it folded wings and withdrew from the fray.
C. Manjunath, officer in charge of the Mysuru airport told The Hindu that he had already spoken to the Air Pegasus management but their initial flight plans were for Hubbali and Thiruvananthapuram.
“They have given Mysuru a miss for now but have assured that consequent to increasing their fleet strength by acquiring one more ATR-type of plane they will include Mysuru in their flight plan”, said Mr. Manjunath. Only ATR-type of planes can be operated from the Mysuru airport due to its short runway of 1,740 meters.
The other regional service with which the authorities are in touch include the Air Costa but though the airline authorities evinced interest in the route, there is no progress so far.
The city airport was upgraded by the AAI at a cost of nearly Rs. 82 crore and the stakeholders, including members of the CII, MCCI and those in the hospitality sector have strongly batted for regular flight services from Mysuru as a precursor to industrial growth of the city.
Besides, the city receives nearly 3.5 million tourists every year and air connectivity cannot only give a boost to the tourism sector but will be a commercially viable sector for the airline operator. The passenger occupancy rate on flights from Mysuru was above 60 per cent despite their odd late afternoon departure timings as against the demand for an early morning departure from the city.
Those in the hospitality sector have strongly batted for regular flight services from Mysuru as a precursor to industrial growth of the city
