International flights operation booming

 For the first time after the Covid pandemic struck, the number of weekly flights to overseas destinations from Trichy will cross 100 in the ensuing winter schedule beginning in the last week of October. Though the low number of domestic flights (56 a week) comes as a dampener for Trichy, aviation enthusiasts point out that the increase in international services, which is way ahead of Coimbatore and Madurai airports, underlines the city’s growth potential.

As of now, Air India Express, IndiGo Air, Sri Lankan Airlines, Scoot Air, Air Asia and Batik Air operate flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, Dubai, Sharjah, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Doha. The Singapore sector witnesses 28 services a week while Kuala Lumpur sector registers 21 services. Dubai and Colombo have seven services and Sharjah eight a week. There are two services to Kuwait and one service a week to Abu Dhabi, Muscat and Doha from Trichy. In all, there are 76 international flights a week from Trichy.

Air India Express, Malindo Air and Sri Lankan Airlines will be operating additional flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo. The Singapore sector will see seven more flights, adding up to 35, from the winter schedule while 14 more will be operated to Kuala Lumpur, making it 35 a week. Sri Lankan Airlines will add one more daily service to Trichy, thus jumping from seven to 14 a week. Adding the three new weekly flights announced by VietJet Air to Ho Chi Minh City, the total number of flights will rise to 107, airline sources said.

Aviation analyst H Ubaidullah said Trichy airport had 102 overseas flights in the pre-Covid period, which will go up to 107 soon. “This will be the trend for Trichy international airport as all countries have understood Trichy’s potential. All the sectors are witnessing 85% to 90% seat occupancy too,” he added. In the domestic sector, Trichy handles 56 services a week. IndiGo operates four services every day to Chennai, three to Bengaluru and one to Delhi via Hyderabad. “Frequent flyers have been demanding a flight to Mumbai and a dedicated service to Delhi for a long time. Airlines should should come forward to operate flights to these two key destinations,” A John, a travel agent, said.