Kingfisher Airlines has suspended operations to Shimla and Kullu airport in Himachal Pradesh without any notice. This has left scores of tourists in lurch ahead of holiday season forcing tourists to make alternative arrangements to reach Shimla and Manali.
It is learnt that Kingfisher Airlines has served notice to it’s ground staff that there services would no more be required since it will not be operating to Shimla and Kullu airport. National carrier Air India had already suspended it”s operations to Himachal Pradesh since July
Despite Himachal getting a record number of tourists every year, air routes to Himachal Pradesh remain allegedly non profit for the airlines due to the absence of landing facility for bigger aircraft in the state. Only Dornier planes with limited seats have been flying into Himachal Pradesh due to which fares remained high for the tourists through out the year. Tourists have preferred to travel by road and rail while visiting Himachal Pradesh.
Due to absence of proper aviation and even rail network in Himachal Pradesh neighboring Chandigarh has now become a major hub for tourists traveling to Himachal Pradesh. Over 30 flights arrive into Chandigarh daily from all over India. Tourists prefer to travel to fly into Chandigarh and then travel to Himachal Pradesh by road. Srinagar airport also have over 20 regular flights arriving daily making it easier for tourists to fly into Kashmir.
Absence of air connectivity to two most popular destinations of Shimla and Manali will be death knell to tourism in these two sector. With holiday season just starting for Diwali and New Year season, people in travel sector are a worried lot.
