People of Kullu district, especially those associated with the tourism industry, are heaving a sigh of relief as private airline company Himalayan Airline Bulls, in association with the Deccan Charter, will start eight-seater chartered flights between Kullu-Manali and Chandigarh from April 2.
The tourism industry in Kullu has started gaining momentum in the beginning of this year as it gets frequent snowfall in the valley, which attracts thousands of tourists every year.
Director of Himalayan Airline Bulls at the Bhuntar airport Pankaj Bakshi told Hindustan Times that the company would undertake three flights between Kullu-Manali and Chandigarh from April 2 respectively.
Flights will leave at 7.30am, 9.50am and 12.10pm from Bhuntar to Chandigarh and at 8.10am, 10.30am, 12.40pm from Chandigarh to the Bhuntar airport, which will continue without any break, except in case of a major maintenance problem.
Travellers shall have to pay Rs 9,195 per passenger, including taxes. Director of the Airport Authority of India at the Bhuntar airport YK Sharma, confirmed the development and said the company would start its services from April 2 in the district.
Air India had suspended its flight service at the Bhuntar airport from February 20 to April 20, citing inhospitable weather conditions in the district, which affected people associated with the tourism sector in the district.
{{/usCountry}}Air India had suspended its flight service at the Bhuntar airport from February 20 to April 20, citing inhospitable weather conditions in the district, which affected people associated with the tourism sector in the district.
{{/usCountry}}Taxi operators and hoteliers of Kullu district expressed their happiness and said it would bring their economy back on rail which was affected after the suspension of flight service in the district.
Bhuntar Taxi Operators’ Union general secretary Jagdish Sharma told HT, “This news give us some hope as taxi operators were facing a tough time after the suspension of flight service in the district as their livelihood depends on the arrival of tourists.”