In a first, AI's 72-seater lands at Kullu-Manali airport

MANALI: In a historic leap, Air India's 72-seater aircraft landed on Kullu-Manali airport at Bhuntar for the first time on Wednesday. Earlier, only 48-seater aircraft were operating on the route.
Kullu-Manali airport director YK Sharma said that Air India's ATR 72 plane successfully landed on the airport. "It will operate six sorties a week, except for Tuesday.With an increase in the seating capacity, the airfare too has decreased," he said. Indian Airlines was the first to operate its small aircraft on Delhi-Kullu airway in the late 50s when the airport was built. MDLR, Kingfisher, and Vayudoot have also offered their services on this route. A private air company was keen on flying a 78-seater aircraft to Kullu but despite successful trial, it did not operate even a single aircraft.
Sharma said that the aircraft would fly with few seats empty due to short runway. "Still the seating capacity is more than before," he added.
Till last Monday, Air India's ATR 48 was making sorties between Delhi and Kullu. Its airfare was nearly Rs 15,000 per seat, which was too expensive. However, the airfare of ATR 72 on Wednesday was Rs 6,900 per seat.
"I had once travelled in Indian Airlines in the 50s and had paid a fare of Rs 17. We have been expecting expansion in the runway for last five decades. Thankfully, a positive step has been taken by Air India," said Gokul Chand Sharma, a resident of Manali. Airports Authority of India (AAI) has spent Rs 1 crore in building a new terminal at Kullu-Manali airport. The move has cheered the tourism fraternity of Kullu Manali.Over 99.9 per cent tourists are forced to take a 14-hour journey by Delhi-Manali national highway which is already in dilapidated condition. "This is what we were waiting for. We need more such aircraft so that airfare on this route decreases automatically," said Manali Hoteliers' Association president Anup Ram Thakur.
Apart from Air India, a private charter company Himalayan Bulls is operating two to three non-scheduled flights between Chandigarh and Kullu every day with its small eight-seater plane.