Alliance Air resumes Delhi-Kullu flights after 115 days

Our Correspondent

Kullu, July 16

Alliance Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of national carrier Air India, resumed operations between Delhi and Kullu after a span of 115 days today. The flights were grounded since March 23 in the wake of the Covid-induced lockdown.

Alliance Air station manager, Kullu, Akhilesh Vijayi said 12 passengers came from Delhi while two travelled from Kullu. He said the flight would operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Various measures to prevent the Covid spread were being followed to ensure the safety of passengers and airlines staff, he said.

Ajay Gupta, nodal officer, Kullu-Manali airport, said all 12 persons were residents of Kullu. They had been sent to 14-day institutional quarantine. Gupta said tourists having the requisite documents, as per the guidelines would not be quarantined. He said residents of Kullu coming from Delhi could also opt for paid institutional quarantine. They should have a valid proof of Kullu resdential address.

Akhilesh Vijayi said the airlines had lowered the fares. The cost of Delhi to Kullu ticket was Rs 5,000 while that of Kullu to Delhi was Rs 9,000.

Travel agents from the area said although the airlines had reduced the fare by 50 per cent, there were few queries.

Since most of the hoteliers had decided not to resume operations, tourist influx was |unlikely anytime soon.

Taxi operators were also not willing to resume operations.