New air routes set to give wings to tourism in UP

LUCKNOW: The UP government’s initiative to sanction 12 new air routes connecting tourist destinations with major cities of the state is expected to boost tourism and aviation sectors in the days to come.

Besides Lucknow, other cities like Varanasi, Jhansi, Kanpur, Agra, Gorakhpur, Allahabad, Bareilly, Meerut, Kushinagar and Sonebhadra would be major beneficiaries.

Aviation experts have hailed the SP government’s move to open new air routes for scheduled and non-scheduled aircraft operators.

President, Lucknow Chapter of International Air Transport Association, S Shoaib, said: “This would surely help small operators get more business. At the same time, more foreign tourists, who don’t prefer the road travel, would be attracted towards these flights.”

If everything goes well, revenue of around ` 400 crore would be generated and tourism would also get a boost, he said.

The incentives provided by state government for the operators have made it more lucrative to fly on these routes.

At present, only one small operator Ventura Airconnect is operating its flights in UP.

Suresh Chandra Hota, director, Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport, said: “We would wel- come the increase in number of flights from Lucknow to other destinations in the state. Considering the incentives offered, flying on these routes would be beneficial. It’s a win- win situation for airline operators and now it’s up to them to cash in on the situation.”

The state has decided to compensate air operators for poor passenger load. If seats go empty during the flight, the government will pay for 30% seats. Usually, 10 to 18 seat aircraft get adequate passengers, but if they don’t, then they have something to bank upon.

Besides, airlines have been offered exemption from valueadded tax. They will have to pay just 4% tax against the 21% tax paid by other airlines operating on major routes.

The government has also written to the AAI to waive off some parking charges of these small aircraft.