P.V.Anandpadmanabhan

Air India will start direct flight from national capital Delhi to Pantnagar in Uttarakhand from October 14, its latest initiative to expand air connectivity to smaller cities and towns.

The four times a week flight will operate on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with an ATR aircraft. Flight 9I 815 from Delhi (DEL) will depart at 1430 hrs and reach Pantnagar (PGH) at 1530 hrs. The return flight 9I 816 will leave Pantnagar at 1550 hrs, to arrive in Delhi at 1650 hrs. The flight will provide quick and convenient connection to government officials, business travellers, students and tourists, among others. 

Pantnagar is well known for the G.B.Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, India’s first Agriculture University. It is also close to the integrated industrial town Rudrapur, which has large industrial houses based there and also the High Court of Uttarakhand. Pantnagar is a gateway point to the famous Jim Corbett Wildlife National Park and picturesque tourist destinations like Nainitial, Ranikhet and Bheemtal. 

In the recent past, Air India has launched flights to six regional stations viz to Bhuj from Mumbai, to Lilabari, Tezpur, Silchar, Guwahati and Shillong from Kolkata. The airline also operates flights from Port Blair to Car Nicobar under charter agreement with the Andaman Nicobar Island Administration. Air India’s regional fleet of 8 ATR and CRJ aircraft cover 28 stations in India.