AHMEDABAD: Signalling a clear revival in domestic travel, flight movements from the city airport are gradually on an increase. At least five new flights have begun operations at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in Ahmedabad in past 10 days.
The new flights include those to Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Indore and Kolhapur. Yet another flight from Goa to Ahmedabad has also been launched recently, according to sources. An Ahmedabad-Pune flight is also expected to start in the days to come.
“New destinations are being added as the passenger footfalls are gradually beginning to increase at the city airport. The uptakes for domestic travel have surged significantly since July as the number of Covid-19 cases has begun to recede. The trend is seen since July itself,” said a well-placed source at the city airport.
Airport sources confirmed that in past one month, the number of passenger footfalls went up by 40% at the city airport.
“Against an estimated movement of some 10,000 passengers every single day at the SVPI airport in May, the footfalls have increased up to 14,000 passengers since July. Flights operating out of the city airport to various destinations are running fairly full,” the source further said.
Besides domestic movements, the uptakes for international flight movements has also shown a significant surge. “As UAE and other middle-eastern countries opened up for transiting passengers flights moving towards gulf countries have witnessed greater uptakes. At present, a majority of international passengers in Gulf-bound flights are students who are transiting from these countries to the US, Canada or other European countries for higher education,” said an airport source.
Other passengers comprise resident visa holders of Dubai and other middle-eastern countries as well as those headed to Europe or the US. Sources said that if restrictions are lifted, the direct flight connecting Ahmedabad and London also may resume.
