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Mysuru gets air connectivity after 11 months

Alliance Air launches its flight services from Bengaluru

Mysuru: Finally, air connectivity to Mysuru was restored on Thursday after a gap of 11 months. Tourism Minister R.V. Deshpande and Revenue and district in-charge Minister V. Srinivasprasad inaugurated the flight services to Mysuru by Alliance Air.

They arrived here by Alliance Air flight from Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. The first 32-seater Alliance Air flight, which took off at 6 am from KIA landed at Mysuru airport at 6.53 am against the scheduled time of 6.40 am.

Mr Deshpande returned to Bengaluru by the same flight at 7.30 am against the scheduled time of 7 am. Nine passengers arrived and 15 left for Bengaluru. The passengers were greeted by Pratap Simha, MP, Vasu and G. T. Devegowda, MLAs, and C. Shikha, Deputy Commissioner. Members of the Mysuru Tourism Forum and the Mysuru Travel Agents’ Association were present.

Expressing happiness over resumption of flight services, Mr Deshpande attributed it to the collective efforts of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Mr Srinivasprasad, and Mr Simha. Although Mysuru has a huge growth potential in many sectors, including tourism, it could not achieve the desired goal for want of air connectivity.

“We are giving Rs 9.5 lakh per month to Alliance Air as gap fund for one year. We did the same when we began flight services between Belgaum and Hubli in 2001 when S.M. Krishna was the Chief Minister. That way, we consider gap fund as an investment. We have plans to alter the timings so that passengers could get connecting flights to Goa, Chennai and Hyderabad,” he said.

He said Alliance Air flight services should have been launched a month ago. The delay was because of the model code of conduct imposed for BBMP elections. Mr. Deshpande said, “We are in touch with the Union Civil Aviation Minister on the expansion of Mysuru airport.”

Mysuru airport Director M.K. Singh told DC that flights would operate from Monday to Saturday. The timings may be slightly changed for the convenience of passengers.

( Source : deccan chronicle )
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