Punjab for direct flights

The state authorities had earlier tried to impress upon the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Air India to start direct flights to UK, USA, Canada and Italy. The international carrier only started a "hub-and-spoke" flight using a Boeing aircraft of Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Indian Airlines, from Amritsar on Wednesdays and Sundays to connect the passengers to international flights to New York, Paris, Manchester, Singapore, Dubai, Copenhangen, Moscow and Frankfurt.

However, the airline did not give any firm commitment on the issue of direct flights. "The airline does not have any aircraft right now for deployment on this sector. Also, there is not enough traffic right now to make direct flights to the international destinations in UK, USA and Canada financially viable," according to a senior Air India official.

In fact, the 120-seater Boeing aircraft being used for the twice-a-week "hub-and-spoke" flight is carrying only an average of about 20 to 25 passengers per flight from Amritsar to Delhi, he cited. While the airline officials do not rule out the possibility of direct international flights after expansion of their fleet and increase in traffic, the state government wants a firm commitment.

At present, Indian Airlines (IA) operates two Delhi-Amritsar-Sharjan flights on Mondays and Fridays. Earlier, Air India was operating the Amritsar-Delhi-Moscow-Birmingham flight but it was later discontinued.