TravTalk India Online Magazine
Low-cost carriers IndiGo and SpiceJet have started new daily flights to Rajkot from key metro cities of India, fulfilling the demand for enhanced connectivity by the travel trade in the region. Travel to the industrial centre earlier required people to transit via Ahmedabad, adding four to six needless hours to the journey.
Manas Dwivedi
Joyous over the new flights, the travel trade fraternity of Rajkot and the region is sure the move will give some much-needed impetus to tourism here.
Sanjay Mehta, CEO, Transglobe Travels, says, “The increased air connectivity to Rajkot will enhance the convenience of passengers and hence, encourage them to travel more. Tourist arrivals in Rajkot will have a great impact. People residing outside Gujarat will be able to travel directly to Rajkot and then connect to nearby destinations like Diu, Sasan Gir, Somnath, Dwarka, Palitana and Shivrajpur Beach that recently received the Blue
Flag certification.”
Mehta says that in the absence of regular flights, passengers had to travel via Ahmedabad which would add four cumbersome hours to their journey to Rajkot. “Same-day return for corporate travellers was not feasible. Also, it was inconvenient to catch early-morning flights from Ahmedabad. Practically six hours were lost in transit,” he shares.
Talking about the commencement of IndiGo’s Rajkot operations, Sanjay Kumar, Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer, IndiGo, says, “Rajkot, known for its casting and forging industries, is one of the prime industrial centres in Gujarat. Increased connectivity to Saurashtra’s financial capital will boost trade, commerce and tourism in the region. IndiGo is committed to providing an affordable, on-time, safe and hassle-free travel experience on-board its lean, clean flying machine.”
