Seeking site clearance for the proposed Kothagudem greenfield airport, industries minister KT Rama Rao wanted the Union civil aviation ministry to sanction another greenfield airport in Jakranpally, besides eight smaller airports in the state. He also sought direct flights from Hyderabad to US.
Participating in the national meet of stakeholders of regional connectivity scheme organised by the Union civil aviation ministry in Delhi on Friday, KTR wanted the Centre to introduce direct flights on Hyderabad-Dallas and Hyderabad-Newark routes.
There are no direct flights from Hyderabad to US and almost all the operators operate via their hub. “This is an additional delay of minimum three to six hours apart from causing inconvenience to the travellers. At present Air India operates Hyderabad-Chicago via Delhi and Hyderabad-JFK/EWR via Mumbai. In view of the huge potential of the US-bound traffic from Hyderabad, I request that Air India starts direct flights from Hyderabad to Dallas and Newark,” KTR said. Welcoming the civil aviation ministry’s regional connectivity scheme (RCS), the minister requested 10 tentative locations for smaller airports under RCS. “One of the welcome provisions under the proposed RCS scheme is the presence of heliports. This will open up possibilities of commercial viability for short distance travel faster,” Rama Rao said.
Source: The New Indian Express