National Congress of Gujarati Organisations (UK), an umbrella organization of 105 Gujarati organizations active in England, has asked Indian Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, why there is no direct flight between Ahmedabad and London in new Air India winter schedule for year 2010-11.

On last fourth of July, Praful Patel had publicly announced and promised that there would be a new Ahmedabad-London direct flight starting from the month of October when winter schedule will be effective. Patel had announced this while inaugurating new Ahmedabad airport international terminal, in presence of three union ministers and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

A representation note written by National Congress of Gujarati Organisations(UK) states:

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Shri Praful Patel,
Civil Aviation minister, Government of India,

Gujaratis living in the UK and also in the USA have a strong desire that direct flights from the UK to Ahmedabad are reintroduced very soon.

Your speech, on 4 July 2010, during the opening ceremony of the new airport building at Sardar Patel International Airport at Ahmedabad gave us a lot of hope and people felt reassured that direct flights will be introduced in the winter timetable.

However, after seeing the latest timetable for the flights commencing at the end of October 2010 our hopes are dashed. I attach a copy of Air India’s Winter Schedule.

You have already been presented with the reasons as to why Gujaratis sincerely seek direct flights. Namely, the journey time would be shorter, as the inconvenience of having to stop at Bombay, Delhi etc. will be averted. All the passengers, especially, the elderly, the frail and parents of young children will particularly benefit as direct flights will make their journey much less arduous.

We note with pleasure that Air India has implemented a programme to renew and enlarge its fleet of aircrafts. It will be one of the leading airlines and will have a young fleet particularly as it has introduced over 45 brand new B777 and A320 family aircraft and over the next few years it is intending to grow the fleet to 180 aircrafts including 27 Boeing B787 Dreamliners.

On behalf of National Congress of Gujarati Organisations (UK) and the members of 105 Gujarati Organisations it represents, I request you to at least start by
making some of the flights direct to Ahmedabad and then later on introduce more direct flights.

I would appreciate your early reply.

With kind regards.
Yours sincerely,
Pravin Amin, Chairman.

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A copy of this note above has also been sent to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and DeshGujarat.Com.

NCGO Chairman Pravin Amin told DeshGujarat that recently, during the celebration of India’s Independence Day at Indian Gymkhana, Isleworth, UK, they talked to Sheilendra Tomar, Marketing Manager – UK & Ireland, Air India. As the latest Flight Schedule did not include direct flights, they asked him of Air India’s intentions. In response, they were told that direct flights to Ahmedabad were not included in the timetable and NCGO needs to take this up with Shri Praful Patel, Minister for Aviation, India.

Amin said, they have checked Jet Airlines schedule too, but any direct flight between Ahemdabad and London is absent in Air India, Jet or any other Airlines schedule of coming winter.

It should be mentioned that presently Ahmedabad is connected with London through Air India flight with one stop at Mumbai. The travelers catch Air India flight that departs from Ahemdabad at 21.05 and reaches Mumbai in an hour. Then all the passengers from Ahmedabad sit there for about four and half hours. The flight leaves Mumbai airport at 2.30 am, and then reaches London directly. Similar thing happens on return journey too.

According to the winter schedule of Air India, announced on its website, the plane for London would leave Ahmedabad airport at 22.30 and reach Mumbai airport at 23.30. After two and half hours, it will leave Mumbai airport at 2.05 am to reach London at 6.35 am(UK time). This means the journey will be faster, and halt at Mumbai is also minimized, but still, the direct flight promise is not kept.

Praful Patel has two full months to act and ensure that he keeps his promise.

Jet Airways had started its Ahmedabad-London direct service in year 2007, but stopped same service within two years.

Interestingly, after Air India plane for London leaves Ahmedabad and reaches Mumbai, it comes back through the sky of Ahmedabad to reach London!