The long-awaited flight services between Mysuru and Kochi are likely to start soon after the model code of conduct is lifted.
According to sources in Mysuru airport, Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India had already inspected the airport and all the necessary infrastructural arrangements are in place to start the flight service. The date for the start of flight services may be announced soon after the code is lifted after the results of the Lok Sabha polls on May 23.
The Mysuru-Kochi route figured among the five new destinations to be connected with Mysuru under the third round of UDAN, an acronym for Ude Deshka Aam Nagarik, the Centre’s Regional Air Connectivity Scheme. The other destinations are Goa, Hyderabad, Belagavi and Bengaluru. Mysuru is already air-linked to Chennai and the daily flight service to the Tamil Nadu capital has an occupancy of more than 80% in the ATR flight, which is a 72-seater aircraft.
Towards March-end, the office of Mysuru Lok Sabha MP Pratap Simha announced the air-linking of Mysuru with Kochi.
ATR-72 aircraft
Sources in Mysuru airport said Alliance Air will operate an ATR-72 aircraft on the Hyderabad-Mysuru-Kochi sector.
The flight originates from Hyderabad before arriving in Mysuru and taking off to Kochi. On the return journey, it arrives in Mysuru from Kochi before flying to Hyderabad. The flight effectively connects Mysuru with Kochi as well as Hyderabad. The proposed flight service is expected to operate on all days of the week except Tuesday.
The air-linking of Mysuru with Chennai, Kochi and Hyderabad, besides Goa and Bengaluru is expected to give a boost to not only tourism, but also industrial development of Mysuru.
Mumbai
A section of stakeholders in tourism and industry in Mysuru have also made a case for air-linking of Mysuru to Mumbai, the commercial capital of the country.
Published - May 18, 2019 12:39 am IST
