Kullu-Chandigarh flight resumes

Our Correspondent

KULLU JANuary 16

Air-India resumed its regular flights between Kullu and Chandigarh today. The flight had been cancelled since mid-December in the wake of bad weather conditions. However, the daily flights between Kullu and Delhi continued even during the winter.

Air-India will carry out daily flights between Kullu and Chandigarh except on Sundays. The carrier is operating 70-seater ATR-72 aircraft. The airlines is charging hefty fares for the 40-minute journey. Air-India station manager at Bhuntar Ravinder Thakur said 13 passengers went to Chandigarh from Kullu and seven flown to Kullu.

The 70-seater aircraft is allowed to ferry 30 passengers from Kullu due to a short runway, while around 40 passengers can fly to Kullu. The people associated with the tourism industry said various facilities at the Bhuntar airport should be upgraded to enable flight operation during adverse weather.

Kullu Travel Agents Association patron Bhupinder Thakur said the flights would boost the influx of tourists.