Aurangabad awaits other airlines to fill the void created by Jet Airways

AURANGABAD: After cancellation of Mumbai-Aurangabad Jet Airways flight and several unsuccessful attempts for the airline’s revival, city airport is eagerly awaiting advent of another private airlines on this route.


Currently, the Aurangabad airport has only two airlines catering to the passengers — Air India operating on the Delhi-Aurangabad-Mumbai route, while Trujet is operating on the Aurangabad-Hyderabad route.

The grounding of Mumbai-Aurangabad flight, operated by Jet Airways , has affected a daily average of 200-250 fliers. Director of Aurangabad airport DG Salve told TOI that with resignation of top management and lack of investors, revival of Jet Airways is highly unlikely.

The airport has approached other operators like Spicejet and Indigo airlines to take up the slot vacated by Jet Airways. “Spicejet has given an assurance that it will consider initiating flights from Aurangabad and Indigo has also given positive indications. However, both the airlines are running short of aircrafts which is why we will have to wait,” Salve said.

However, before the Jet Airways debacle, the city was looking forward to starting of new air routes. Jet had confirmed operating a flight on Aurangabad-Udaipur route and an additional flight on Aurangabad-Delhi route.

Corporate fliers and tourism stakeholders have expressed discontent over government’s lack of attention in bringing more flights to Aurangabad. During his visit to the city last year minister of civil aviation Suresh Prabhu had outlined the impact of poor air connectivity of Aurangabad on tourism.

Prabhu, who had reviewed the connectivity status, had stated that he will work towards improving the air connectivity of Aurangabad. But nothing much has been done so far.

Mukund Kulkarni, industry expert and former CMIA president, said the pursuit by industry associations, political leadership and stakeholders in tourism needs to be persistent.

“The focus should not be merely on restoring old flights, but on initiating new ones to Middle East so that Aurangabad can be connected to the rest of the world. It can also become a connecting destination for fliers in Mumbai or Pune,” Kulkarni said.