India-made Dornier starts commercial ops

New Delhi, April 12

Alliance Air’s made-in-India Dornier 228 aircraft today commenced its first commercial flight on the Dibrugarh (Assam)-Pasighat (Arunachal Pradesh) route with Union Ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kiren Rijiju on board.

Accompanied by senior officers, Scindia and Rijiju boarded the flight at the Mohanbari Airport in Assam’s Dibrugarh for Pasighat in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.

Taking to his official Twitter handle, Scindia said, “A historic day for the North-East, as well as for all of India! With the proactive support of Arunchal CM Pema Khandu, the government has launched the first-ever commercial services by the made-in-India Dornier aircraft.”

Scindia further said, “Overjoyed and proud to embark on the 17-seater made-in-India Dornier 228 aircraft — in its first ever maiden service to Arunachal Pradesh!”

The state-run Alliance Air became the country’s first commercial airline to fly an Indian aircraft for civil operations. Till now, Dornier planes were used by the armed forces only.

Alliance Air had in February signed an agreement with the government-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to lease two 17-seater Dornier aircraft. —