Lokmat News Network
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
Efforts have once again gained momentum to increase the number of flights in the skies of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. To boost air connectivity from the city, the civil aviation Committee of ATDF has approached six airline companies simultaneously.
Committee president Suneet Kothari has sent proposals to the heads of Air India, Air India Express, SpiceJet, Akasa Air, Star Air, and Fly91, requesting an urgent meeting. He emphasised the need for new flight services to support the city’s growing tourism and industrial potential. A demand has been made to start a daily evening flight service on the Mumbai–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Mumbai route. Additionally, requests have been made for flight services connecting the city to Ahmedabad, Jaipur–Udaipur, and for a twice-daily Pune–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar–Pune service during the winter season.
Currently, the city has flight connectivity to Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Goa. However, limited flights are causing inconvenience to passengers, businesspersons, and tourists, affecting the city’s economic momentum. In this context, approaching all major airlines simultaneously is seen as a significant step towards resolving the issue.
Waiting for Slots
“We operate daily flights between Jalgaon and Pune. If slots are available, we would be happy to start services from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Mumbai and Pune. However, securing slots at both airports is currently challenging, which is why services cannot be started,” Fly91 had stated in November. The wait for slots continues even now.