Demand For Better Connectivity To US & Flights To Europe From Visakhapatnam

We need periodic consultation with the stakeholders to improve both domestic and international connectivity from Visakhapatnam, the main industrial and commercial hub of Andhra Pradesh - O Naresh Kumar, Airport Advisory Committee member

Visakhapatnam: The demand to make an all-inclusive return fare by the IndiGo flight being launched between Visakhapatnam and Abu Dhabi on June 13 and revival of direct flight to Bangkok to ensure hassle-free connectivity respectively to Europe and the United States is turning louder.

Though there are cheers over the announcement by Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu to launch Visakhapatnam-Abu Dhabi non-stop flight, the return fare is costing around Rs33,000 to Rs35,000. Travel from Etihad and other reputed airlines with complimentary food and beverages from Hyderabad is available for Rs4,000 to Rs5,000 less. Connecting flights to prominent destinations in Europe en route Dubai/Abu Dhabi is very competitive with a minimal layover period for passengers from Telangana as well as Andhra Pradesh..

Similarly, connecting flights from Bangkok to popular destinations in the United States is travel-friendly. "Due to unhealthy competition among their flights from Visakhapatnam to Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, Air Asia was forced to withdraw both the services from this month on account of low occupancy," Travel and Tour Association of Andhra (TTAA) president K Vijay Mohan told Bizz Buzz on Sunday. He said now there is growing demand to revive Bangkok flights to take care of budget tourists as well as those opting to catch connecting flights to the United States. Fares from Bangkok are competitive as long-haul flights like Boeing 787, called dreamliners, which include Air Canada, West Jet, Emirates and Etihad Airways, are operated from Dubai/Abu Dhabi and Bangkok with a capacity to carry more commuters at less cost.

The Kathmandu flight being launched by Air India Express from Visakhapatnam to Kathmandu is also being termed as not preferable due to overnight layover in Bengaluru. In fact, a flight from New Delhi or any other metro is less expensive and consumes less duration of time.

"We need periodic consultation with the stakeholders to improve both domestic and international connectivity from Visakhapatnam, the main industrial and commercial hub of Andhra Pradesh," Airport Advisory Committee member O Naresh Kumar.

Naresh, who is vice-president of Andhra Pradesh Air Travellers' Association (APATA) said a robust ecosystem with social infrastructure should be developed to improve inbound tourism. Many want the development of a Buddhist circuit connecting all the heritage sites/Buddhist monuments so as to attract tourists from Buddhist countries. Following intervention by Odisha Governor Dr K Hari Babu, who hails from the city, the Odisha Government impressed upon the State Government to operate a flight between Visakhapatnam and Bhubaneswar from June 12.