Newly-launched Akasa Air commences its flight services from Agartala airport from Friday and as part of this expansion, the airline connects the two Northeastern destinations Agartala via Guwahati to Bengaluru.

Newly-launched Akasa Air commences its flight services from Agartala airport from Friday and as part of this expansion, the airline connects the two Northeastern destinations Agartala via Guwahati to Bengaluru.

Tripura Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha inaugurated the flight services from Agartala airport in presence of Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy and other top officials of Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Akasa.

These new flights will provide seamless one-stop connectivity between Bengaluru and Agartala with no change of aircraft required at Guwahati, said Akasa airline. The airline launched its services on the domestic routes from August 7 this year.

Akasa said it has been progressively expanding its operations and will be flying a total of 11 non-stop routes along eight cities - Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Guwahati, and Agartala from October 21. To further enhance connectivity on existing sectors, the airline has also announced additional daily flights on the Bengaluru-Chennai route also commencing from October 21.

Guwahati, the gateway to Assam, and Agartala are among the fastest growing cities in the region and the enhanced air connectivity will provide a boost to the immense potential of the region's aviation, industrial, and tourism prospects, said Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha inaugurating the services.

The 189-seater aircraft of “Akasa Air” will depart daily from Bangalore to Agartala via Guwahati and will fly directly to Bangalore from Agartala.

He said that with flight services from Tripura and with joining of AKasa, the students, their parents and other passengers along with the businessman community of the state will get the benefit of direct flight service up to Bengaluru.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Chief Minister Dr Saha was accompanied by the Transport minister Pranajit Singha Roy, Airport’s Director KC Meena and CMO of “Akasa Air” Belson Coutinho, Chief Minister congratulated the Akasa air for this initiative said that the present Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport was earlier known as Shingerbill Airport. That time, there were not so many security arrangements at the airport, but currently there are major changes in the state’s air connectivity and it has been possible because of the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Since the formation of Nrendra Modi led central government in 2014, the overall connectivity including road, rail and airways, the entire Northeast region including Tripura are getting the benefits of expanded and modern connectivity. Resulting in, the people of Tripura are now directly reaching major cities of the country through expansion of air services.

Dr Saha also requested the Akasa Air authorities to maintain their airfare within the reach of the state's people.

Transport Minister Pranajit Singha Roy highlighting the improvement of air connectivity in the state said the MBB airport in Agartala now operates 20 daily flights and tourists from other parts are getting the benefit of frequent flight services connecting Agartala. Keeping in view of growing demand of passengers, Singha Roy also requested the authorities of Akasa to start one more flight on Agartala-Delhi route.