Domestic air connectivity from Tiruchi is set to improve with private carrier IndiGo deciding to launch services on Hyderabad-Tiruchi-Hyderabad sector from October 27.
Coming as it does after rather unpopular decisions of the airline to change schedule of its flights to Bengaluru and its latest move to suspend its Singapore flights from the city, the move to introduce the new service has largely been welcomed by the travel industry here.
The airline has opened bookings for the new service from October 27. It would operate a 74-seater ATR aircraft. The flights would take about two hours and 25 minutes. According to the schedule available in the airline’s website, the flight (6E7116) will depart from Hyderabad at 9.05 p.m. and reach Tiruchi at 11.30 p.m. In the return direction, the flight (6E7117) will depart from Tiruchi at 11.50 p.m. and reach Hyderabad at 2.10 a.m. (the next day).
According to sources, the service has been introduced after a survey. Apparently, the airline is eyeing good air connectivity to several foreign destinations from Hyderabad and the youth employed in the IT sector there.
“There are a good number of international flights, especially to the United States, from Hyderabad. It is a welcome move that IndiGo is launching flights to the city from Tiruchi. It gives more options for people flying to foreign destinations from central and southern districts of Tamil Nadu,” said M.S.Paramasivam, former chairman, South Tamil Nadu Chapter of Travel Agents Association of India.
However, the airline should revert to the earlier morning schedule for its Tiruchi-Bengaluru service and restore its Singapore flights. While sources in the airline here indicated that suspension of Singapore flight was temporary and the service would resume from October 27, the travel trade here is disappointed. “The service had good occupancy and brought revenue to the airline. People have been affected due to change in their travel plans due to suspension of the flight,” he added.
Reiterating the popular demand among residents and industry for flights to Mumbai from Tiruchi, he urged IndiGo to tap the demand for the sector by introducing a service.
