New Delhi/Shillong: The first direct flight connecting Shillong with national capital New Delhi landed at Shillong Airport on Monday. With this, the long pending demand of the people of Meghalaya flying non-stop to New Delhi comes true. The flight services were inaugurated by Transport Minister of Meghalaya S Dhar, MLA GB Lyngdoh, AAI's Regional Executive Director (RED) M Suresh and other officials present on the occasion. This is the first flight that has directly landed Shillong Airport from New Delhi. The services have been started by the Fly big airlines.
This maiden flight is aimed to offer reliable services to this popular tourist spot of North East India. Earlier the Airport was connected with Kolkata under Regional Connectivity Scheme of the government. Due flight restriction during corona pandemic, regular flight services were temporarily suspended from Shillong.
This open wing flight is being operated on Q-400, taken as a charter where the airline company will subsequently be moving to their own aircraft in the next year.
Water cannon salute was given to the arriving flight as a welcome gesture by the AAI and the state govt. Fire Services.
This historic day was made possible by the state government through Meghalaya Transport Corporation inviting flight operations in the state with the objectives to provide reliable and regular air connectivity to Shillong Airport, in the first phase of Inter-State Air Service Operation in Meghalaya.
Also, to provide an effective and reliable schedule with an adequate frequency, which allows for travel from one destination to another and back the same day as well as utilizes its own schedule with existing Airline-schedule to provide connectivity on trunk routes. And with the commitment that the operations are dedicated to the Shillong Airport, Meghalaya.
The main scope included the airline's operator shall have to provide operations for the sector Delhi –Shillong – Delhi. Airlines operator would be required to operate flights between Shillong and Delhi twice a week, initially for a period of three months, which may be extended based on the performance of the successful bidder (operator) and demand trend from passengers, as per the provisions of the state government.
The flight operator was expected to deploy 40 to 80 seater aircraft in the sector. Accordingly M/s. Big Charters Pvt. Ltd. (Flybig) was awarded the contract for providing the link between Delhi-Shillong routes.
AAI has extended all support in starting this historic flight connecting Shillong-Delhi route. Airport Director Manish Agarwal along with his AAI team thanked all present on the occasion for the success.
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