Sanjib Kumar Roy, Editor
Port Blair, Jan 21: It was a historical moment as the maiden night flight in the Andaman sector, operated by GoAir, (Airbus A-320 neo series), arrived at the Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair in the wee hours today (2.00am on Jan 21, 2016). With this, GoAir has become the first airline to commercially operate night flights to Port Blair turning night landing of flights in Andaman Sector into a reality. The scheduled private chartered flight service between Bengaluru and Port Blair, operated by GoAir that arrived here with 155 tourists from Bangalore, departed at 2.30 am (Jan 21).
Commenting on the launch of the night operations, Lt Gen AK Singh, Lieutenant Governor, Andaman and Nicobar Islands said “I would like to thank GoAir for being the pioneering airline to commercially undertake night landing at the recently upgraded Port Blair airport and for enhancing direct connectivity to Bengaluru. The airport was recently upgraded with improved runway, lighting and navigation systems to allow commercial night flying for the growth and development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The upgrade was carried out by the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, with support from the Civil Aviation Ministry, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Andaman and Nicobar Naval Command and Airports Authority of India.”
It may be recalled that A&N Administration had been vigorously pursuing the matter with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, DGCA, A&N Command, Airports Authority of India and Air India for operationalzing the Port Blair Airport during night hours as being most important for the growth and development of these Islands as well as for exigencies. The night landing facility could become a reality under the able guidance and vibrant leadership of the Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Lt. Gen. A.K. Singh (Retd).
To be a part of the historical moment, the Secretary Civil Aviation, Shri NK Sharma, the Deputy Director Civil Aviation, Shri Ravi Chandran and the team of Airports Authority of India were present at the airport on arrival and till the departure of the flight from Port Blair to Bengaluru.
GoAir will operate two more flights in this sector during January, five flights in February and six flights in March 2016. All these flights will be night flights. Accordingly, the flight will arrive at Port Blair from Bengaluru at 1.50 am (past midnight) and depart for Bengaluru from Port Blair at 2.20 am, the Deputy Director (Civil Aviation) informed ‘The Daily Telegrams’. Further, GoAir will be operating first ever daily direct sunset flights connecting Port Blair to Bengaluru in its Summer schedule to be effective from March 27, 2016.
Scheduled dates of the chartered flights, conveyed by GoAir:
January 26.01.2016
31.01.2016
February 05.02.2016
10.02.2016
15.02.2016
20.02.2016
25.02.2016
March 01.03.2016
06.03.2016
11.03.2016
16.03.2016
21.03.2016
26.03.2016
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