Dibrugarh, Aug. 31: Come October Dibrugarh will be connected to Guwahati through a new direct flight, bringing cheers to hundreds of air travellers.

There was no direct flight from Guwahati to Dibrugarh after Jet Airways discontinued operations on July 15.

Brijendra Singh, regional manager of SpiceJet, who arrived at Dibrugarh airport to ensure finalisation of the services in the Guwahati-Dibrugarh-Guwhati route today, said a SpiceJet flight will be fully operational from October 3.

N.K. Gupta, director of Dibrugarh airport, said Singh inspected the facilities at the airport.

'There was no direct flight from Guwahati to Dibrugarh since Jet Airways stopped operations. We are happy that Dibrugarh and Guwahati will be connected again with a direct flight,'' Gupta said.

The booking centre for the new flight will be established soon. 'There was a demand for a direct flight in the Dibrugarh-Guwhati route. We hope this flight will cater to the passengers' needs,'' he said.

Altogether three flights - one Air India and two Indigo - operate from Mohanbari airport at present.

'It's a welcome development. We will, however, urge the SpiceJet Airlines to change the departure time of the flight from Dibrugarh so that the it lands in Guwahati before 9am. This will make the flight convenient for passengers travelling either way between Dibrugarh and Guwahati,'' said Nabajyoti Borkakoty, a social activist of Dibrugarh and a frequent flier.

He said Dibrugarh is an important place surrounded by many tea gardens and a direct flight from Guwahati will boost its communication with the industries in Upper Assam.

'We had to face a lot of problems after Jet Airways ended its services in July. I took up the matter with the director-general of civil aviation (DGCA) on behalf of the tea industries and the people of Dibrugarh and sent a letter, urging the authorities to provide a direct flight to connect Dibrugarh and Guwahati,'' Varma added. 'Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and legislators and MPs of Dibrugarh had urged the Union civil aviation ministry to resume the services of a direct flight between Dibrugarh and Guwahati soon after Jet Airways stopped their services. Dibrugarh is an industrial hub of Upper Assam and therefore, a direct flight is a requisite in this route,'' he said.

'After Bogibeel bridge is opened, traffic of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Silapathar will be shifted to Dibrugarh since it has an airport. More flights will lead to better connectivity of the area with Guwahati,'' Varma added.