Shillong, Oct 30: Alliance Air on Sunday launched Shillong-Lilabari, Imphal-Aizawl and Ziro-Lilabari flights connecting five states aimed at boosting tourism.
The flights, part of Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik scheme ( UDAN), were inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia via video mode from New Delhi..
The online function was attended by Chief Ministers of Meghalaya, Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh besides the tourism minister of Mizoram.
Union minister VK Singh and Kiren Rijiju also spoke.
Digital connectivity was an issue as the speeches of Scindia and Arunachal chief minister were interrupted due to poor network.
In Shillong, the event at State Convention Center was attended by KL Nongbri, MD MTC & Joint secretary of Transport department, and Etherlbert Kharmalki, Commissioner & Secretary, Transport department among others.
Umroi Airport Director Rishi Kant Bangwal and Alliance Air cordinator (East and North East) Bikash Sharma were also present.
Lilabari under North Lakhimpur in Assam and Ziro in Arunachal Pradesh are corridors to several tourist places.
The move of Alliance Air will help in expanding its wings in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Manipur and Meghalaya.
This will also help in boosting tourism as the Northeastern cities beckon tourists with verdant valleys, hilly streams, lush green forests, vast tea gardens, snow-capped mountain peaks, mighty rivers, tribal culture, colourful fairs and festivals, said a statement from Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India.
With the new flights, travellers from Imphal Aizawl, Shillong, Ziro and Lilabari will get multiple options for onward connectivity to the rest of the country.
There are only window or aisle seats in Alliance Air and aircraft have comfortable leg space with a seat pitch of 30, it said.
Passengers can log on to: www.airindia.in or contact any of travel partners.
