Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : Alliance Air, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India, on December 7, 2019, flagged-off its first flight operations between Guwahati (Assam) to Dimapur, the largest city of Nagaland, to the capital city of Manipur, Imphal, making it the 236th route under the Regional Connectivity Scheme – Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik ( RCS-UDAN), under Government of India.
The inaugural event was graced by N.Biren Singh, Chief Minister of Manipur, Losii Dikho, Minister (PHED), Government of Manipur, Dr Sapam Ranjan Singh, Chairman, Tourism Corporation of Manipur Ltd, and other dignitaries from Air India and Air Alliance.
Flight services from Dimapur to Imphal was a long pending demand from the region. Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had given assurance for the commencement of flight operations in the region during his meeting with the Nagaland Governor RN Ravi on August 27, 2019, in New Delhi.
This marks another step by the Ministry of Civil Aviation to establish a strong air network in North East India. Till now, for a mere distance of 200 km, people had to travel for 7-hour by bus from Dimapur in Nagaland to reach Imphal in Manipur. With the establishment of this route, people can now travel to Imphal in 50 minutes by air from Dimapur and access the air connectivity to other parts of the country as well from Guwahati. This flight marks the inception of the first-ever alternative option of connectivity to Imphal, as Imphal is yet to be connected with Railway Network.
Alliance Air will operate thrice-weekly flights; every Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday on this route. It currently connects 57 destinations and with the addition of Dimapur & Imphal there will be 59 stations in Alliance Air ambit. The airline will deploy its 70 seater aircraft on this sector, according to a PIB release.