Indore: The air connectivity between India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) got better after Air India Express on Friday launched a direct flight between Indore and Sharjah. Union minister for civil aviation Jyotiradiya M Scindia flagged off the inaugural flight from Indore at a function held from New Delhi virtually.
The flight, operated by Air India Express, commenced its operation on March 31, and it will operate three days a week. It is Indore’s second air connectivity to UAE, and it will give a boost to the trade, commerce, and tourism in Madhya Pradesh.
This new route will enhance connectivity with the Middle East and promote trade, commerce and tourism in Madhya Pradesh. In his inaugural address, Scindia said that after Indore to Dubai, Indore to Sharjah will be Indore’s second air connectivity with UAE. This will not only boost trade and commerce but also connect families living in two different countries.
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Speaking on connectivity and infrastructure development, the minister said that in 2013-14, Indore was connected to only six destinations. In the 9 years, it has increased to 24 including two international destinations, which is a 400% growth. Earlier, weekly air traffic movement from Indore was 320 which has now increased to 500 which is a 52% growth.
The minister further said that in 2014, the state of Madhya Pradesh had air connectivity with only eight cities of the country, but now it is connected to 26 cities which is a 300% growth. The weekly air traffic movement from the state was 500 aircraft; in 9 years it has increased to 840. Madhya Pradesh was given 60 routes under the RCS UDAN scheme, 33 of them are already operational and 12 will be operational soon.
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Recently, Reva airport’s foundation was laid and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had allocated ₹50 crores for the airport’s development. In Gwalior, a new integrated terminal building is being developed at a cost of ₹500 crore. A new integrated terminal building costing around ₹475 crore is being developed in Jabalpur also.
Aloke Singh, managing director of Air India Express, AirAsia India and Captain Manish Uppal, head of operations AirAsia India were present during the event. MoS, ministry of civil aviation (MoCA), Vijay Kumar Singh was also present.
