AP Chambers Bats for Vijayawada As Regional Air Hub, Seeks More FLY91 Routes
Chamber seeks direct flights to Kochi, Goa, Coimbatore and Shirdi
Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation has urged regional airline FLY91 to expand its operations from Vijayawada and explore direct air services to key business and pilgrimage destinations, including Kochi, Goa, Coimbatore and Shirdi.
The Chamber made the appeal during an interactive session with a FLY91 delegation led by Rubaina Shaik. AP Chambers president Potluri Bhaskara Rao, along with senior office-bearers B. Rajasekhar and R. Subba Rao, congratulated the airline on the commencement of its proposed services from Thursday.
The airline outlined its planned regional operations, including the Vijayawada–Tirupati, Rajahmundry–Tirupati and Hyderabad–Tirupati routes. The services are expected to boost regional connectivity and benefit business travellers, tourists and the general public.
The Chamber stressed the need for direct flights from Vijayawada to Kochi, Goa, Coimbatore and Shirdi and urged FLY91 to examine the feasibility of introducing services on these routes.
Bhaskara Rao suggested developing Vijayawada as a regional aviation hub, particularly in view of the expected commissioning of the new airport terminal by October 2026 and increased aircraft parking capacity. He proposed that at least two aircraft be stationed at Vijayawada for overnight parking as a baseline for expanding operations.
As FLY91 operates ATR aircraft suited for regional flying, the Chamber suggested concentrating on short-duration routes to ensure operational efficiency. It also emphasised affordable fares, safety, dependable connectivity and punctuality as crucial factors for attracting passengers and sustaining the airline’s growth.
