On Saturday, Air India (AI) started a flight between Kangra and Chandigarh which takes only an hour and half where as it takes six hours by road to cover the distance.
The first flight from Gaggal airport in Dharamshala carrying 39 passengers took off at 8 am today and landed in Chandigarh at 9.19 am before its scheduled arrival time of 9.30 am. It was back at Dharmashala at 10.55 am with 32 passengers on board.
The fare for the flight between the two cities has been fixed at Rs 17,12, which is cheaper than the fare for Pawan Hans. Launching the flight service on this route came as a blessing for people, especially the patients in Chamba and Kangra regions, who had to earlier travel for more than nine hours by road to reach Chandigarh.
The 70-seater Air India aircraft will fly between the two cities six days a week from Monday to Saturday.
The flight will also boost tourism in the hill destination of Dharamshala as it has been connected to Chandigarh by air for the first time under the regional connectivity scheme of the Government of India.
