AI to extend its flight to 7 days a week

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 6

In view of the huge demand for a direct flight to Amritsar by the Sikh diaspora, Air India is all set to extend its four-day a week Amritsar-Delhi-Birmingham flight to seven-day a week before the conclusion of this month.

Officials at the local Air India office said the fresh orders and schedule were expected to arrive the next week. They reasoned that the extension of the flight was required as the current flight was recording full occupancy. High demand prompted the national carrier authorities to extend the flight to all days a week.

At present, the flight operates on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The national carrier had launched a 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner having 238 economy and 18 business class seats on the route last year.

A number of airline companies operated flights on the route after the local airport was elevated into an international entity. However, a majority of these airlines soon withdrew operations. Similar was the case with Air India.

At the outset, Jet Airways used to operate Amritsar-London-Toronto flight, but once the private airline pulled out due to recession, Air India filled the gap. Later, the national carrier had also discontinued its Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto flight on October 31, 2010.

Subsequently, Air India once again chipped in with the Amritsar-Birmingham flight. However, it was suspended due to the strike of pilots.

The British Midland International (BMI) introduced its thrice-a-week to and fro service between London-Almaty-Amritsar on October 14, 2011. However, it was also withdrawn after remaining in operation for nearly a year. It was discontinued in October 2012.

A vigilant city resident and patron, Amritsar Vikas Manch, Dr Charanjit Singh Gumtala, said there was a need to revive the Amritsar-Singapore air link also. He claimed that Singapore Airlines had launched thrice a week Amritsar-Singapore flight on October 1, 2004. The service ran well for around five years before being discontinued in early 2009.

He said a high number of Sikh diaspora was residing in London and around and they must be provided a direct air link between the holy city and London.

He demanded that Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport must be included in the list of airports where e-visas were available.

In a communiqué to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Minister for External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Dr Gumtala stated that it was a welcome initiative to provide the online visa facility for 43 countries, including the US, Australia, Japan, Israel, Germany and Singapore.

Now travellers can apply for a visa from the comfort of their homes and receive it within 72 hours. However, the manch will be highly grateful to the Ministry of External Affairs if the Amritsar airport was also included in the list.

At present Qatar Airways, Uzbekistan Airways, Turkmenistan Airlines besides Air India operate from Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport. These airlines fly directly to international destinations with connecting flights from their respective countries.