Hope for flyers as SpiceJet seeks tech details of airport

Rajkot: Finally, there is a silver lining for Rajkot flyers. After all their struggle for better connectivity with Mumbai and Delhi, SpiceJet has sought technical details from Rajkot airport authorities to start operation for Mumbai. Meanwhile, city's travel agents claim that both SpiceJet and IndiGo have indicated their seriousness in starting operations from the city.
Talking to TOI, Rajkot airport director A N Sharma said, “SpiceJet has sought the airport's technical details in order to start operation and we have provided them with the details on Monday.” The airline authorities are also in talks with Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) and several other travel agents to start its operation for Mumbai from the city.
Sanjay Mehta a representative of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) in Rajkot said, “SpiceJet and IndiGo have informed us that they are seriously considering starting of operations from Rajkot.”
However, the airlines want a permanent slot from Rajkot.
RCCI vice president Parth Ganatra said “The DGCA is providing temporary slots to the airlines which have been vacated by Jet Airways. The airlines communicating with us has demanded permanent slots to start operations. We went to meet chief minister Vijay Rupani on Monday and requested him to talk to the civil aviation minister to provide these airlines with permanent slots from Rajkot.”
Rajkot, at present, has only two daily Air India flights after Jet Airways shut operation. Air India, too, has suspended its Mumbai flight four days in a week. The apex trade body had made representations to several authorities demanding solution to the air connectivity issue from Rajkot.