National carrier Air India today took another step to boost regional connectivity by commencing operations to Pune via Raipur from Bhopal, thrice a week.
The inaugural flight, a 70-seater ATR-72 (AI 9865) took off from the Raja Bhoj airport in Bhopal for Raipur with almost full capacity, the airline said in a statement, adding this is the only direct air link on this route.
The flight will operate three days a week-on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Flight AI 9865 will leave Bhopal at 0845 hrs and land at Raipur at 1015 hrs, will depart from Raipur at 1045 hrs and arrive in to Pune at 1300 hrs.
The return flight AI 9866 will leave Pune at 1330 hrs and reach Raipur at 1545 hrs, depart Raipur at 1615 hrs and will touch down at Bhopal at 1745 hrs.
