With no flights to the hilly State despite the government taking up the issue at various levels, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has now asked the State to extend the flight runway at Gaggal airport in Kangra district by 400 meters to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft.
Himachal has also been eagerly exploring options to re-start flight operations that had been suspended since September last after Kingfisher airlines pulled out its flight operations. Subsequently, Indian Airlines also stopped its flight operations in the State.
lack of flight operations in the State has taken a toll on tourism sector and several film productions houses, which had planned shooting at several hotspots, have moved either to Jammu and Kashmir or abroad.
Recently, three film production houses, including Dharma production and Balaji production, had cancelled shooting at different locations in the State due to unavailability of flights.
Chief minister Virbhadra Singh and several other ministers of the State had met Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and requested him for resumption of flights. The State carrier, Air India has informed the State government that they would consider flight operations probability in June when new schedule of flights is prepared.
However, Himachal is not buying this theory as after June, monsoon season would start and the airline would make excuses of bad weather whenever there is passenger shortage.
Chief Secretary Sudripto Roy had written a letter to all the airlines for starting operations but none of the flight operators have responded except Spicejet airlines which has even conducted a test run at Gaggal airport.