This is the first flight from Donyi Polo Airport at Hollongi, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.
Scindia virtually flagged off the flight from New Delhi. The IndiGo flight will operate from Itanagar to Mumbai via Kolkata. Earlier on 18 October, Indigo Airlines had successfully test-landed its aircraft at the newly constructed airport.
Informing about the same, the Civil Aviation Minister tweeted in hindi, that the new air route was launched in line with the continuous expansion of aviation services in the North East and in accordance with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Purvodaya' resolution.
The world-class airport was also inaugurated at Hollongi in Itanagar 10 days ago, he added
At the event, the minster also mentioned that flights will soon be started from two Northeastern states to Myanmar and Bangladesh as the government is working on enhancing air connectivity in the region.
Scindia said that air connectivity in the North East (NE) has been enhanced and more flights will be operated connecting the region with other places.
Flights from Imphal to Mandalay and from Agartala to Chittagong will be started soon as part of enhancing international air connectivity in the region, he added.
The minister also said the efforts are on to make the Northeastern states the growth engine.
Among others, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju also attended the event virtually. At the event, IndiGo Principal Adviser RK Singh said Itanagar is the airline's 75th domestic destination.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the airport on November 19. It is the fourth operational airport in the state. 'Donyi' means the sun and 'Polo' means the moon.
The airport, also the first greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh, has been developed in an area of over 690 acres at a cost of more than ₹640 crore. With a 2,300 m runway, the airport is suitable for all weather day operations. With the Donyi Polo Airport, the northeast region now has 16 airports.
(With inputs from PTI)
