Air Deccan to connect Shillong-Dimapur from Agartala on May 1

Air Deccan had withdrawn from service in Northeast in 2007, which had introduced the concept of flexi fare in aviation sector of the country. However, Air Deccan could not sustain the competition against the big giants of the industry. The UDAN has given them opportunity to restart the operation in disconnected cities of Northeast.

According to officials of Airport Authority of India (AAI), initially a 19-seater small aircraft of Air Deccan will start from Kolkata at 07:50 hrs for Agartala except Sunday; then it moves to Shillong to Dimapur and return to Kolkata via Agartala around 15:00 hrs.

"Besides, providing daily connectivity to Shillong and Dimapur from Agartala at low cost, Air Deccan has opened up the space for competition among the flight operators not only within the region, also with isolated towns of the country," AAI officials stated while welcoming staff of the flight operators.

Air Deccan had its test run on April 26 last on Kolkata-Agartala-Shillong-Dimapur route successfully.

Welcoming the decision, Transport Minister of Tripura Pranajit Singharoy said the objective was to make flying affordable for the masses, to promote tourism, increase employment and promote balanced regional growth. It would also intend to put life into un-served and under-served airports.

According to report, Air Deccan would extend the fleet in the region connecting Aizawl and Imphal from Agartala in the next few months. At present the company is having three planes in its fleet, which would be expecting to have one more in the next few weeks.

UDAN, which was started in 2017 for low-cost air travel air in the region, aims to promote regional airport development and regional air connectivity. It mandates fares to be restricted to Rs 2,500 per head, said AAI officials.