- Malaysian airline mulls international flight to Bangkok from Srinagar in summer
- ‘It will help increase both domestic and foreign tourist flow to Kashmir’
- ‘It will also help regulate air fare during peak season’
In a much needed boost to the tourism sector in Kashmir, the first ever foreign airline, AirAsia, will be operating on Srinagar route from February 19 this year. The low cost airline is also mulling to introduce international flights from Srinagar to Bangkok later.
The Malaysian based carrier will operate morning and late evening flights from Srinagar airport. This is the first foreign airline having its subsidiary AirAsia India operating on Indian domestic routes.
Air Asia India commenced operations in India on June 12, 2014 with Bangalore as its primary hub. With Kashmir being the prime tourist destination in India, it has decided to operate on Srinagar route from February this year.
Director, Srinagar International Airport, Sharad Kumar said AirAsia India will commence operations here from February 19, 2017.
“Initially, AirAsia will begin with its operation between Srinagar and Delhi. Later, it has plans to operate direct flights to Jaipur, Ahmadabad, Banglore and Kolkata. If it succeeds here, the airline has also expressed its willingness to operate international flight from Srinagar to Bangkok. State government has also shown keen interest in introducing this flight at Srinagar for tourism promotion,” said Kumar.
Kumar said given AirAsia’s foreign connectivity, its operation at Srinagar will help increase both domestic and foreign tourist flow to Kashmir.
Director Tourism Kashmir, Mahmood A Shah said the move is aimed to promote Kashmir’s tourism sector besides tapping the foreign market.
“With the commencement of the AirAsia, tourism sector is expected to receive major fillip,” said Mahmood.
He said AirAsia also has good market in Europe and Far East which will attract foreign travelers to Kashmir.
AirAsia India is also a low cost airline having economical fairs. Its introduction at Srinagar is expected to regulate airfare during peak season.
“When we have more airlines, it would automatically help regulate air fare. AirAsia is also a very economical airline. Its operation at Srinagar airport will help bring down air fare which is usually remains high during summer season,” said Director Tourism Kashmir.
Currently, six airline companies are operating 36 flights at Srinagar. AirAsia will be seventh but first foreign airline company to operate at Srinagar airport.
Tour operators have hailed state government’s efforts to attract more airlines to Kashmir.
Noted travel agent Nasir Shah said it is a good move by the state government which will boost tourism sector.
Secretary General Jammu and Kashmir Tourism Alliance Zahoor Qari said AirAsia is considered as one of the best low cost airlines in world.
“If it operates on Srinagar airport, it would not only regulate airfare but attract both domestic and foreign tourists to Kashmir in large numbers,” said Qari.
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