Surat: Air India chairman and managing director(CMD) Ashwani Lohani promised two Lok Sabha members representing Surat that Surat – Dubai direct flight will be started from 15 May.

Surat – Delhi Air India flights charge higher for tickets compared to Spicejet flights. In response to representation made by Surat MPs, Lohani directed marketing department officials of ir India to reduce the ticket rates.

Another representation made by Surat MPs was regarding further domestic connectivity. Mumbai – Surat flight which is operated three days in week should be made daily and connected to more cities. The flight should start from Surat airport instead of Mumbai and fly on Surat to Mumbai, Mumbai to Surat, Surat to Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar to Mumbai, Mumbai to Bhavnagar, Bhavnagar to Surat, Surat to Varanasi and Varanasi to Surat route during a day on daily basis.

Meanwhile Air India’s Goa, Jaipur, Hyderabad flight service which was to start on 1st May and later 20th May will now start from 1st June.

In another development, Airport Authority of India(AAI) has sought DGCI nod to make 655 meter runway functional. The permission is likely to be granted within this month. A 2905 meter runway is likely to be made functional by the end of this year.

In one more development, Surat airport is likely to declare as custom airport soon for which separate arrival and departure wings are being set up. Custom inspection of this separation has already taken place. Direct flights to foreign locations will be possible after custom airport status to Surat airport.

All these developments are taking place just ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s scheduled visit to Surat on 16/17 April during which he is also going to take night halt here. Shri Modi will be the first Prime Minister to take night halt in Surat. He may formally make related announcements during his visit.

DeshGujarat