Dimapur, Dec. 7 (EMN): Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation, Paiwang Konyak flagged-off the first Alliance Air service, a subsidiary of Air India, from Dimapur Airport on December 7 under UDAN scheme. Alliance Air will operate direct flight connecting Dimapur to Imphal and Guwahati and vice versa route with ATR 72-600 type of aircraft having 70 seats, a DIPR report stated on Saturday.
Speaking at the launching programme, Konyak expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi for his vision to enable common citizens of the country fly and making air travel affordable even to a far flung place like Nagaland under UDAN RCS.
The first flight under UDAN scheme was operated by Alliance Air between Shimla and Delhi sector on April 27, 2017, which was flagged off by the Prime Minister Modi, he informed. Mentioning that Nagaland has only two flight connectivity with other parts of India, Paiwang remarked that it is a lucky day for Nagaland with the penetration of Alliance Air.
Alliance Air service would be operating thrice a week. On the request of Konyak for operation of daily flight services shortly.
Representing the Regional Executive Director Airport Authority India, the general manager (CNS) Kausal Kumar, AAI, also expressed gratitude to Alliance Air for boosting connectivity to the people of Northeast.
In the first flight from Dimapur to Imphal, 36 passengers boarded the Alliance Air flight while 27 passengers were on board from Guwahati.
Marking the day, the transport minister lighted a lamp and handed over the first three boarding passes to the passengers. He also cut a cake in the presence of CEO Alliance Air, director of Dimapur Airport, DC Dimapur, officials from AAI and NST department.