Alliance Air, a regional subsidiary of Air India has announced the operation of daily direct flights from Mandakalli airport in Mysuru to Hyderabad, Kochi and Goa starting July 19, 2019. These flights are being launched under the Regional Connectivity Scheme-UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) which aims to make air travel widespread and affordable. These routes have been awarded to Alliance Air to boost connectivity under the &ldquoConnecting India&rdquo mission of the government. Commuters will now have the option of travelling from Hyderabad to Mysuru and returning the same day with onward options of Kochi, Bengaluru and Goa from Mysuru. Currently, Mysuru is connected to Chennai and Bengaluru.
All flights will operate with a 70-seater ATR-72 keeping in mind the short runway of the Mysuru airport. In anticipation of growth the airport has equipped itself with refuelling facility and has night landing facilities. About facilities inside the airport, medical services have been introduced and a canteen facility will begin once more flights start operating throughout the day.
Mysuru tourism is likely to soar with these additional flights. Known as the cultural capital of Karnataka, Mysuru receives a large number of tourists from around the world especially during the Dasara celebrations. With attractive inaugural rates these flights will strengthen connectivity and help garner the immense tourism potential Mysuru has to offer. Popular destinations such as Ooty, National Parks like Bandipur and Nagarahole and also a few historic places like Belur and Halebid are in close proximity to the city and the flights will reduce the travel time to these places as well. Most tourists who visit Mysuru are from other states and foreign countries and better air connectivity will help their plans too.