Direct flight from Amritsar to Kuala Lumpur from August 16
AMRITSAR/ J ALAN DH AR: PRIVATE carrier Air asia X’s chief executive officer (CEO), Benyamin Ismail, announced here on Tuesday that the airlines is starting a direct Amritsar-kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) flight on August 16. Booking of tickets will begin on May 2.
At the launch function, he said, “Many Sikhs and Punjabis in Kuala Lumpur had been asking us to start a direct flight to the Golden Temple city of Amritsar. So, we decided for it.”
“This new route is part of our efforts to strengthen our position in India, which offers us the possibility of expanding in Europe and North America. Airasia X will focus on promoting Amritsar along with our existing destinations, New Delhi and Jaipur,” said Benyamin.
Punjab minister for tourism Navjot Singh Sidhu said, “The direct flight is important for Punjabis all over the world. It is a preferred destination not only for the Punjabi diaspora, but also for many foreign tourists.”
Stressing on the launch of more direct flights from Amritsar (Rajasansi airport) to various destinations, Sidhu said only 10,000 tourists visit Agra’s Taj Mehal while more than 1.25 lakh tourists visit Amritsar for paying obeisance at the Golden Temple every day.
“Traffic from the Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport has increased by 48% in the past few months. So, there is need to start more new direct flights from Amritsar.”
“The one-way fare of the flight is just ₹3,555, which is very much affordable for common people. This flight will certainly boost the economy of Amritsar and the country,” he said.
The airline will operate four weekly return services between Kuala Lumpur and Amritsar on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
The flight will take off from Kuala Lumpur at 7.20pm local time and arrive at Amritsar at 10.30 pm. The return flight will depart from Amritsar at 11.45 pm and arrive in Kuala Lumpur at 8.05 am local time.
Member of Parliament from Amritsar Gurjit Singh Aujla, and deputy commissioner Kamaldeep Singh Sangha were also present on the occasion.
ADAMPUR’S MAIDEN FLIGHT
Meanwhile, in Jalandhar, minister Sunder Sham Arora welcomed the maiden flight from Delhi to Adampur airport on behalf of the state government. Lok Sabha MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, Congress leader Tejinder Singh Bittu and Union minister Vijay Sampla were also present. Arora said the flight is a historic initiative that would play a key role in the transformation of the entire Doaba region.
Arora said that besides providing air connectivity to the region with the rest of world this flight would act as a catalyst for connecting the NRIS of the region with their roots.
He said that with the operationalisation of this airport the Doaba region would now figure aptly on the air map of the world. Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP Chaudhary Santokh singh who came in the flight said that the flight would act as a major source of convenience for millions of people of Doaba region.