Surat: Operations of Air Ventura’s 9-seater aircraft from Surat International Airport have remained suspended since January 7, causing growing inconvenience and dissatisfaction among passengers, traders, and business travellers.

The suspension has affected regional air connectivity between Surat and Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Amreli, significantly limiting travel options for daily commuters and those requiring urgent air travel.

According to reports, the disruption occurred following the expiry of the airline’s agreement under the Gujarat government’s Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme. As the agreement has not yet been renewed, flight operations were halted.

Despite more than three weeks having passed since the suspension, no official clarification has been issued regarding the resumption of services.

Air Ventura earlier operated two daily flights on the Surat–Ahmedabad route and one flight each to Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Amreli. The sudden withdrawal of these services has particularly impacted the trading community, working professionals, and frequent flyers who depended on quick regional connectivity.

Airport officials stated that the VGF agreement signed with Air Ventura has expired and, in the absence of renewal, the airline discontinued operations. The airline, however, has not confirmed whether the agreement will be renewed or provided any timeline for restarting flights, stating only that services are currently “on hold.” Bookings are also not available on the airline’s website.

Demand for Larger Aircraft Under VGF Scheme

Meanwhile, there is increasing public demand to introduce 40- to 70-seater aircraft on key regional routes from Surat under government-supported schemes.

At present, 70-seater flights are operational on the Surat–Diu, Surat–Jamnagar, and Surat–Bhuj routes under the UDAN scheme. Traders and passengers have urged authorities to extend similar connectivity to routes linking Surat with Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, and Amreli, stating that larger aircraft would provide significant relief and ensure sustainable operations.

In recent days, Linesh Shah, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s Aviation Airport Committee, also made a presentation on the issue before GUJCEL (Gujarat Aviation Infrastructure Company Limited), highlighting the urgent need to restore and strengthen regional air connectivity from Surat. DeshGujarat