Air Asia to start flying from Amritsar

Malaysia's home-grown low-cost airline Air Asia is all set to start its operation from Rajasansi International Airport, Amritsar (Punjab) from October. It would operate thrice a week from the airport and offer destination Kualalumpur-Amritsar-Kualalumpur.

With the commencement of the services, it would become eleventh airline to touch the Amritsar sky as already Air India, Ariana Afghana, Air India Express, Air Deccan, Jet Airways, Singapore airlines etc. are operating from the airport.

The commencement of services by Air Asia from Rajasansi Airport would not only facilitate the Indians who are keen to visit Malaysia to spend their holidays but would also provide a opportunity for the airline, to bank upon the Punjabi's, so its a win-win situation for both.

It is pertinent to mention here that Malyasia is a preferred destination for Punjabi people. According to the data, the Indian arrivals to Malaysia have shown a double digit growth from the last 5 years. The North and East Indian market contributes over 35 per cent of the total Indian arrivals into Malaysia.

Also, Punjab is the primarily feeder market for the gateway of North-Delhi. The total contribution from the Punjab market has sustained at an average growth of over 18-22 per cent from the last 5 years.

It is expected that in the year 2007, the contribution by the Punjab market would be 30 per cent of the total departures to Malaysia from the Northern region. The three main cities that have contributed to this growth from Punjab is Ludhiana, Chandigarh and Jalandhar.

Speaking to Business Standard, Airport Director, Arun Talwar said, " They(Air Asia) were in talks with us after that they had given their consent for starting three flights a week from the Amritsar Airport from October."

Moreover, with the starting of these flights from the holy city, the total number of flight at Rajasansi International Airport, Amritsar, the only International airport in Punjab will go up to 65 per week including Domestic and International flights.

It is worth noting that Amritsar, is the only International Airport in Punjab, Moreover, in the recent times it had emerged as very important origin and destination for natives of the state settled in Europe and the Americas. Experts opine that nearly half the passenger traffic to Europe, US and Canada on Air India preferred to travel from Amritsar.

During the past few years there has been tremendous growth in terms of passengers and flights from the airport. As compared to 2005-06, there has been a growth of 25 per cent growth in terms of flights from the airport. In 2005-06 there were 4598 flights were operating from the airport which touched to 5754 flights during the corresponding period 2006-07.

Also, the airport has witnessed a growth of 22.4 per cent in terms of passengers movement at the airport. In comparison to 4, 87, 140 passengers in 2005-06, the figure touched 5, 96, 228 passengers in 2006-07.

The increased air traffic at Rajasansi International Airport near Amritsar has forced the give it a major facelift by the end of March 2008. Seeing the vast potential, the AAI would be spending close to Rs. 77 -100 crore for expansion. Even the Punjab government has agreed to give 44 acres of land to the airport for expansion purpose.

The plans include that the airport would have nearly 40,000 square metre of extended terminal, capable to hold nearly 1,000 passengers in one go. At present the terminal measures less than 14,000 square metre and can barely hold 500 passengers.

Also, there are plans to build 4 aero bridges for the passengers. The plan also includes extension of runway from 3, 259 m to 3,658 m to give aircraft of the size of jumbo jet more room to land here comfortably.

Four parking bases for the aircraft are also included in this plan, which would take the number of these bases here to nine.