Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has called on the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to enhance flight connectivity to Donyi Polo Airport in Itanagar. In a letter to Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Khandu stressed the issues with the current flight operations to Kolkata and New Delhi, which often operate at full capacity, resulting in high fares and limited ticket availability.
Khandu also highlighted the inadequate connectivity from Kolkata and New Delhi to other major cities, causing extended layovers for passengers. He noted the cessation of flight services between Itanagar and Guwahati since November 2023, urging the reinstatement of these services under the UDAN scheme.
In his appeal, Khandu requested increased flight services from Itanagar to New Delhi and Kolkata, daily operations, direct flights to other major metropolitan areas, and improved connectivity from New Delhi and Kolkata.
Additionally, Khandu reached out to Rahul Bhatia of IndiGo, requesting more flights to Delhi and direct flights to other key metros. He expressed gratitude for IndiGo’s existing services and assured the State’s Department of Civil Aviation’s support in enhancing flight services.
In a positive development, IndiGo announced the commencement of daily flights between Itanagar and Kolkata starting July 31.