Vizag May Soon Have Direct Flight To Dubai

Visakhapatnam: After Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok, Visakhapatnam may soon get another direct flight to Dubai if the talks being initiated by Union Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu materialises.

At present, the travel distance from Visakhapatnam International Airport to Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand by the non-stop flights is around four to five hours providing an easy getaway travel rendezvous to the people living in the region.

Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers’ Association (APATA) vice-president O Naresh Kumar said talks are being held with several operators to strengthen connectivity with Visakhapatnam, the largest commercial hub of AP. The efforts gained momentum with Rammohan Rao becoming the Union Civil Aviation Minister in the Modi 3.0.

Sources said both IndiGo and Air Alliance are being contacted to launch a direct flight to Dubai so that people interested in flying to the United States, Europe and other distant destinations can get hassle-free connecting flights. At present, the passengers are being forced to undertake a circuitous trip spending more time and money. Before the lockdown, Visakhapatnam had flight connectivity to Dubai with a layover at Hyderabad. At present, Gannavaram Airport in Vijayawada has a direct flight to Sharjah.

During his recent visit to Rajamahendravaram, Rammohan Naidu stated that the Centre is keen to develop airports at tier two cities and towns like Kurnool, Kadapa, Kuppam and Nellore and reiterated that under UDAN, they would improve the ecosystem for providing flying opportunity to all sections from all place to the other.

Naresh Kumar told Bizz Buzz on Sunday that at present, the occupancy rate to all the international flights being operated from Visakhapatnam are very good. It could be due to free visa on arrival facility being offered to Malaysia up to December-end and Thailand till November 11. Indonesia is planning to roll out a visa free regime for Indian travellers for a limited period to boost tourism.

Talks are ahead for direct flights to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and Colombo, Tours and Travel Association of Andhra (TTAA) president K Vijay Mohan said. He said there is tremendous scope to transform Visakhapatnam into an international travel hub once the cruise terminal developed by Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) is made operational in coordination with the State Government.

New flights

Meanwhile, APATA said IndiGo announced starting four new flights this month and three next month. From September 21, Visakhapatnam-Hyderabad will take off at 9 a.m.

A new flight will start from Vijayawada from Visakhapatnam daily at 9.15 a.m. on October 27. On the same day, another will be launched from Visakhapatnam to Hyderabad at 1.30 p.m. A weekly thrice flight from Visakhapatnam to Ahmedabad will be introduced on October 27.