Vijayawada: Minister for Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju and Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas launched Air India Express, India’s first international budget carrier, from Vijayawada airport on Friday.
The inaugural flight IX 213 departed at the scheduled time, 10.30 am, carrying 98 passengers on its maiden trip to Mumbai. The flight will arrive in Mumbai at 12.10 pm. Air India CEO K. Syam Sundar travelled on the inaugural flight.
The Mumbai-Vijayawada-Mumbai service of Air India Express will be available thrice a week on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flights will depart from Mumbai at 8 am and arrive at Vijayawada at 9.45 am.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union minister for Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said the runway expansion will be completed probably by December and International flights will operate from Vijayawada to Singapore and Dubai. He said the ministry is going to frame regulations to operate a sea plane at Krishna river near Prakasam barrage in Vijayawada. He said there was a good demand for cargo services from Vijayawada airport.
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas said that Vijayawada airport would emerge as an international destination in a short span of time. He expressed the hope that services to Singapore and Dubai would be introduced soon. He said Indigo was going to introduce flights on domestic routes from March 2.
Machilipatnam MP K Narayana, MLAs Gadde Rammohan Rao, Vallabhaneni Vamsi and Bode Prasad were present.
