One more flight service on Chennai-Thoothukudi sector from October 30

Earlier, the sector was the sole monopoly of SpiceJet. Now, they will have competition in the form of Air Carnival, promoted by a Coimbatore-based conglomerate.

Thoothukudi is the only city next to Chennai in Tamil Nadu to be connected by all four modes of transport - road, rail, air and sea. The domestic airport at Thoothukudi is widely used not just by people of Thoothukudi but also by people of neighbouring Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts. 

SpiceJet operates two flights to the port city _ one in the morning and another in the afternoon. People of Thoothukudi, as well as various trade and industry bodies, have long been demanding another air service in the evening, preferably in the night. As the night landing facility is yet to be developed at Thoothukudi Airport, Air Carnival has decided to operate a new flight service in the evening. 

Airport sources in Thoothukudi said the Air Carnival flight would take off at 3.30 pm from Chennai Airport and reach Thoothukudi Airport at 4.20 pm. Following a break of 20 minutes, the flight would depart at 4.40 pm from Thoothukudi and reach the state capital at 5.30 pm. 

Speaking to DTNext, EC Taji, Director of Thoothukudi Airport, said the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) had recently accorded permission to Air Carnival to operate between Chennai and Thoothukudi. 

Taji said Air Carnival would commission aircraft similar to that of SpiceJet’s fleet for the sector and hoped the new service would be patronised substantially by people, businessmen and industrialists, of not only Thoothukudi but adjoining districts of Kanniyakumari and Tirunelveli. 

Meanwhile, as part of renovation works at Thoothukudi Airport, bay carpeting would be taken up shortly and would take 40 days to be completed. Till the completion of the work, the aircraft would not go to the bay. Hence, disembarkation and boarding will take place on the taxiway. 

To facilitate transport of passengers to and from the taxiway, special arrangements have been made, disclosed airport officials in Thoothukudi.