Even as clouds of uncertainty loom large over the future of the Rajasansi International Airport here,with two airline companies winding up their operations,Bharatiya Janata Party MP Navjot Singh Sidhu has held out hope to save the airport. Addressing the media on Thursday,Sidhu said he recently met Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel regarding the reported withdrawal of the direct flight between Amritsar and Toronto. Air India (AI) officials,too,said the flight was not being withdrawn,but merely re-routed via Delhi,keeping in mind commercial aspects. Sidhu said he would do everything to save the airport,which has the potential of emerging as a lifeline for the economy of the region. Patel promised that the flight would not be withdrawn and rather promised more facilities at the airport for its revival, he claimed,adding that he would take up the matter in Parliament too. AI is also reportedly planning to withdraw the direct Amritsar-Sharjah and Amritsar-Abu Dhabi flights. Though officials are tightlipped here,sources said there were strong rumours that the two flights could be shifted to the upcoming Mohali International Airport near Chandigarh. I have convinced Patel how important the airport is to the area. It can give a fillip to the otherwise neglected economy of this border zone, said Sidhu. The AI had started direct international flights from here last year. Even re-routing of the Toronto flight will affect the passengers,who earlier had the facility to fly directly to Canada,but now will have to take a connecting flight from Delhi, said a source at the airport. Earlier,Singapore Airlines and Jet Airways had withdrawn their operations,giving rise to the fear that the airport is heading for an uncertain future. There are also fears that the recommendations made by the parliamentary committee led by Union Sports Minister M S Gill to make the airport a cargo hub may be turned down. Sidhu is also a member of the committee. But I am thankful to the minister (Patel) that he agreed to include Amritsar in the list of Inbound Tourist Chartered List. With this,the chartered flights from anywhere in the world can directly land in this city,giving a great facility for the Punjabi NRIs, said Sidhu,adding that a system is being installed to augment cargo flights.
