Alliance Air, the wholly-owned subsidiary of Air India has chalked out aggressive expansion plans which include launch of flights to newer destinations, a top official has said.
This Indian Airline recently will launched its maiden overseas flight from Chennai to Jaffna making it the 55th destination connected by the airline.
Alliance Air, a wholly owned subsidiary of AIAHL is all set to resume its services connecting Chennai and Jaffna from Monday, after a nearly three-year pandemic-caused break.
The airline is all set to expand globally and commence commercial flight operations from Jaffna International Airport to Chennai International Airport with direct flight operations on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
“This direct flight will operate four days a week. With the vision to connect to our neighbouring countries, it is our endeavour to offer better air connectivity to all our neighbours with their closest city hubs.
Pre-COVID, Alliance Air operated this commercial international flight. With the support from Government of India, Alliance Air will again resume this flight operation,” the airline noted in a statement.
On the launch of direct flight to Jaffna from Chennai, Air India Chief Ashwani Lohani said it was a major thing for Alliance Airline since it is the first international flight.
“Beginning with this (Chennai-Jaffna route), Alliance Air can connect with nearby countries like SAARC nation,” he said.
An Alliance Air flight from Chennai landed at the Jaffna International Airport on October 17 2019 as Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena inaugurated the its maiden flight.it was suspended due to Covid-19 pandemic.
It added that Jaffna is one of the most beautiful towns located right on the northern tip of Sri Lanka. Jaffna is known for its predominant Tamil population and recognized as the cultural capital for Tamilians in Sri Lanka.
“The hospitality of the locals will surely impress any tourist to this place. They are just not wonderful people but are friendly too. If you are looking for a destination which offers beauty and great hospitality to travellers, then Jaffna should be in your travel plan,” it noted.
This flight is special in many ways. Apart from being Alliance Air’s maiden international foray, it has connected Chennai to Jaffna after a gap of 41 years.
Flyers coming into Chennai from Delhi, Coimbatore, Ahmadabad, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Mumbai, Dubai, Trivandrum and Muscat have the option of connecting onwards to Jaffna over Chennai making air travel more convenient.
“It is the constant endeavour of Alliance Air to bolster its network and soar higher connecting India and beyond,” the statement added.
The airline was earlier a subsidiary of Air India, until the national carrier’s divestment and hand over to the Tata Group in January this year.