Sri Vijaya Puram, the famous capital of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, is a tropical wonder attracting visitors from near and far. Formerly known as Port Blair, the city is home to Veer Savarkar International Airport, a Civil Enclave operated by the Indian Navy with a passenger terminal and apron managed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). This eco-friendly destination features quality biodiversity, attracting 93% domestic and 7% international tourists.
A Basic Aerial Overview
The aerial connectivity between the rest of India and Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair) in Andaman and Nicobar islands has faced several limitations in the past, with challenges related to scheduling, delays, sudden cancellations and even high air-fare, because of limited roster of flights and geographic complications.
As a result, the Government of India collaborated with the Ministry of Civil Aviation to introduce the Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (UDAN) initiative as part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to improve connectivity and growth among regional locations within India. With the initiative in place, over 1.43 crore passengers have benefited from 2.8 Lakh UDAN flights, till date. The same initiative over time has motivated various airlines to improve connectivity to remote locations, such as Port Blair.
About Air India Express, and its Inaugural Flight to Sri Vijaya Puram
Air India, part of the TATA Group, has a rich legacy that dates back to 1932 as TATA Airlines, becoming Air India upon nationalization in 1956 and privatized again in 2022. Its subsidiary, Air India Express, operates over 400 daily flights across 32 domestic and 14 international destinations.
In a major boost to regional connectivity, Air India Express recently launched its inaugural flight from Kolkata to Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), marking a successful nighttime landing on December 1, 2024. This was quickly followed by the announcement of the first return flight to Bangalore, reinforcing the city’s status as a domestic travel hub. Starting December 15, 2024, additional daily flights will be introduced, with a new Chennai-Sri Vijaya Puram route set to begin on January 1, 2025
Why is regional connectivity important? Share your thoughts on the relevance of initiatives such as UDAAN and the Indian Government’s long-term vision of advancing tourism and connectivity.
