Ludhiana: In a disappointment for residents wishing to travel by air, the lone flight between Ludhiana and Delhi will remain suspended till July 31. The flight had operated last on April 9 and after that it has remained suspended.
Station manager of Air India Arindam Chattopadyay said the flight would remain suspended till July 31 due to government’s guidelines that only 50% of flights would operate in the country.
Air India officials said they have been receiving queries from residents who want to travel by air, but are helpless due to the government’s instructions. They added that the number of such queries was not high, but people were willing to travel by air, which was considered safe, as situation has improved on the Covid front.
Sources at the airport said the airlines has fewer number of ATR 72-seater flights and has to cater to multiple centres so that could be a reason for not operating the Ludhiana-Delhi flight. They added that since a sizeable percentage of residents have got vaccinated and second wave has receded in Ludhiana and Delhi, people have started inquiring about the flight.
Airport officials said that flights were suspended around April 9 as the occupancy was less than half on most of the days for around a month.
Residents are disappointed with the suspension of flight since early April. “I have to frequently travel to Delhi for business. Since the start of the pandemic and after lockdown ended last year, I have been travelling by air as it is safer than road travel. So it is upsetting for persons like me. Even buyers are not coming to Ludhiana because of such hindrances, which have resulted in losses to business,” said Manpreet Singh, a city-based businessman.
16/06/21 Shariq Majeed/Times of India
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