Pune: Punekars will soon enjoy flight services from Pune to Nashik, as Air Deccan will start air services between these two cities from the first week of September.
The move is connected to the Union government’s regional connectivity scheme, popularly known as UDAN (Udey Desh ka Aam Nagrik), which was launched in October 2016.
According to officials of Airport of Authority of India (AAI), “Air Deccan will start a flight under UDAN scheme from Pune to Nashik in the first week of September. The slot has been provided to the airline.”
Under the new venture, the 72-seater Air Deccan ATR-72 flights will operate on Mumbai-Kolhapur, Mumbai-Jalgaon, Mumbai-Nashik, Pune-Nashik and Mumbai-Solapur routes.
“Airlines have shown interest in operating flights to regional destinations in different parts of the country from these airports. They have quoted the routes on which they want to operate,” said an official of AAI, New Delhi.
A regional connectivity scheme, UDAN is aimed at reviving dormant airstrips in the country and helping passengers in Tier-II and Tier-III cities fly by air.
At the heart of UDAN is the government’s decision to cap air fares at affordable levels — Rs 2,500 for an hour’s flight — aimed at attracting people from the hinterland.
The scheme UDAN envisages providing connectivity to un-served and under-served airports of the country, through the revival of existing airstrips and airports.
The scheme would be in operation for a period of 10 years.