Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu inaugurated the first flight from Delhi to Pathankot at a ceremony held at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi.
Pathankot airport was opened by the Airports Authority of India to improve regional connectivity as per the UDAN Scheme.
Prabhu said, "Pathankot, is a very important border city for India, and it is very important to connect and help the people from such areas, we had tried to connect the city in the past as well and our Honorable Prime Minister's dream scheme of UDAN has also got wings from this step and I believe that in the coming days, we will be able to connect many other places like this."
The Airports Authority of India is the implementing agency of UDAN, a regional airport development and Regional Connectivity Scheme of Government of India.
Pathankot in Punjab is the 21st airport in the country operational for passengers.
Rakesh Kalra, Regional Executive Director (Northern Region), AAI, said, "We are very much excited, because we have been waiting for this moment to come, and from the Airports Authority of India side, we have made all the arrangements at Pathankot Airport and Delhi Airport, and whatever requirements are needed- we are ready for that. Now we are waiting for the flight to land in Pathankot, and that will be a big moment."
The opening of new regional airports in the country will allow the common people to reach their destinations in less time.
Under UDAN, air connectivity is provided to unserved and underserved airports at a subsidized fare.
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