After the gap of 12 years, Air India resumed its flight service between Leh-Chandigarh Sector. The flight is scheduled to operate thrice a week on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Earlier, Air-India used to run a lone flight services between Leh and Chandigarh every Wednesday but suspended its service in January 2005 stating reason as economically not viable sector.
The resumption of flight service will be a major boost to students, army and paramilitary personnel, patient traveling to PGI for treatment. Today as many as 108 passengers travelled by first flight from Leh-Chandigarh and 58 passengers from Chandigarh-Leh sector.
Chief Executive Councillor, Dr Sonam Dawa inaugurated the first flight by issuing boarding pass to the passengers. Air-India Northern Regional Director Meenakshi Dua, Air-India Northern Region GM Commercial Tsering Rigzin, Airport Authority Director Sonam Nurboo and Hotel Association President Motup Kao were present on the occasion.
Chief Executive Councillor Dr Sonam Dawa said that its good beginning for the Ladakhi New Year and it would help patients, student, pilgrims and army personnel traveling to Chandigarh. He expressed his high hope that in future Air-India would expand their frequency to other sectors like Jammu and Srinagar.
Talking to media persons, Northern Regional Director Meenakshi Dua assured to continue the services in future and added that if required more flight will be operated but Air-India is facing shortage of Aircraft and as and we procure more flight we will look for other sector in assured Meenakshi.
Air-India Northern region GM Commercial Tsering Rigzin said that as compare to private airlines, Air-India fare is always low and during winter months most of them suspends their flight but to ensure the service to the army and people of this region we want to keep it on all the time even though its not economically viable to us and efforts is being made to start more flight.
Airport Authority Director Sonam Nurboo and Leh Hotel Association President Motup Kao also expressed their views.
