Indore gets more domestic routes, but international flights are yet to take off

While domestic air connectivity from Indore has improved in 2016 with new flights to Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the regional connectivity scheme planned by state-run Air India and other proposals to launch international flights are yet to take off.

While domestic air connectivity from Indore has improved in 2016 with new flights to Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the regional connectivity scheme planned by state-run Air India and other proposals to launch international flights are yet to take off.

In September 2014, Air Arabia and Emirates Airlines applied for permission to launch international flights from Indore (HT file)

In July this year, Air India had announced plans to launch new flights from Indore to Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Raipur, Kolkata and Bhopal, and also planned to connect to other airports of MP including Jabalpur under the scheme. The airlines company is slated to get new ATR (Avions de Transport Regional) aircrafts towards this soon.

“Air India is yet to get approval from Directorate General of Civil Aviation for the proposed routes,” said an airport official requesting anonymity.

While Indore airport has got international status, no international flights have been launched yet.

In September 2014, Air Arabia and Emirates Airlines had applied to Union civil aviation ministry for permission to launch international flights from Indore. However, there is little progress on ground towards this regard.

Emirates Airlines had conducted a survey at Indore airport in 2014 to access passenger demand for Indore-Dubai route. The government had also provided statistics related to the export of medicines from the region to the foreign destinations, following which Emirates showed interest to link the international flight with cargo service.

“However, the airlines have not taken interest in launching the flights afterwards, since they were doubtful of the feasibility of operations. The last time a passenger traffic survey was conducted was in 2014,” the airport official said.

Meanwhile, Indore airport director Manoj Chansoria said the airport is ready for launch of international flights. “Indore airport has the infrastructure to launch international flights, but ultimately it is up to the airline companies to launch the flights,” he said.