Amid the continuing India-Maldives dispute, Alliance Air, the sole airline that serves Lakshadweep, has begun more flights.
Due to an increase in the number of customers wanting to visit Lakshadweep, Alliance Air, the sole Indian airline that flies there, has begun extra flights to Kochi-Agatti-Kochi. A senior Alliance Air official confirmed that the new flights would run twice a week, on Sunday and Wednesday.
Alliance Air, the sole airline in Lakshadweep, operates flights between Kochi in Kerala and Agatti island, which has a minor airport servicing Lakshadweep.
The airlines fly 70-seater planes to the island every day. It is now at maximum capacity, with all tickets sold out until March, according to an airline spokesperson.
“We are receiving a high volume of ticket-related inquiries over the phone and on social media. Due to the high demand for tickets, an extra flight was added to the route. If necessary, the frequency of the trip will be increased,” the official said.
Ajay Singh, CEO of SpiceJet, recently announced at an Annual General Meeting that the airline has exclusive rights under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for Lakshadweep and would shortly begin flights to the island.
However, travel websites have stated that they are receiving a record amount of inquiries about Lakshadweep.
Lakshadweep, India’s smallest Union Territory, sprang to prominence when Prime Minister Modi released beautiful photos from his visit on January 22 and urged the island cluster to capitalize on beach tourism.
However, in a subsequently removed social media post, Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna mocked and disrespected PM Modi’s visit to the Indian island cluster.
Amid an outpouring of fury on social media over the insulting allusions to PM Modi, with #BoycottMaldives trending on internet forums, key figures from the Indian film industry and top celebrities came out in favor of the push to boost beach tourism in Lakshadweep.
Alliance Air is a government-owned airline that serves domestic routes in India. It was created in 1996 as a subsidiary of Indian Airlines until merging with Air India in 2011. Air India’s regional wing, Alliance Air, serves locations that are underserved by other airlines.
It performs around 100 flights every day, with a fleet of 21 aircraft.
Alliance Air is the sole airline operating in Lakshadweep, with flights between Kochi and Agatti island. It flies 70-seater planes to the island daily.
