Tripura asks for stopover on SpiceJet Dhaka flight route

AGARTALA: With SpiceJet announcing the operation of international flights on the Guwahati-Dhaka-Guwahati route from July 1, the Tripura government has requested the aviation company to consider a stopover here as well.
In a letter to CMD SpiceJet Ltd Ajay Singh, Principal Secretary Transport L H Darlong on Sunday requested, "The SpiceJet international flight while running from Dhaka on its way to Guwahati may also land at MBB airport here, so that the passengers of Agartala can avail the service."
According to reports, budget carrier SpiceJet will introduce international fleets to enhance connectivity between Guwahati and Dhaka from next month, adding to its current operations of 43 daily flights connecting 22 cities in India.
SpiceJet had withdrawn its service from Tripura sector from September last year despite repeated requests to not do so from the state government. On several occasions, Union civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu had assured Tripura chief minister Biplab Kumar Deb the ministry has already initiated steps to resolve the air fleet crisis in Agartala sector.
Tripura government and MPs have been urging the Centre to introduce additional flights in Agartala sector, connecting Kolkata, Guwahati and other important destinations. The air connectivity in Tripura had been affected seriously for past few months due to withdrawal of flights from the sector by Spice Jet and discontinuation of one Indigo flight.
In last five years, Jet Airways has withdrawal of it's service from Tripura and Air India has also reduced it's fleet in the sector. Despite repeated demands and persuasions, Air Asia and Vistara airlines yet to start service in Tripura, the officials said adding that due to shortage of flights in Kolkata, Guwahati and Delhi from Agartala air fare shot up a double than the normal rate.