Jorhat, June 28: Jorhatians can expect better air connectivity with Zoom Air awaiting the nod of the civil aviation ministry to start its #service from here to Calcutta.
Director of Airports Authority of India (AAI), Jorhat, Zamir Kaliq, said the airport lounge was expanded from 150 seats to 250, hoping that another airlines would provide its services soon.
Jet Konnect is the only carrier which plies on the route with Air India having withdrawn its service since January 1, 2013.
An AAI official said there was space for more than one airline to ply on this route, as there was a demand for air tickets, which went beyond the number of seats available on Jet Lite flights. He said the route would be via Shillong.
The official said after the lounge expansion was over, there were plans to build a parking lot and a dual approach road to the airport. The Jorhat Airport is under the control of the Indian Air Force.
The apron, which earlier could accommodate only one aircraft, has been expanded by the Indian Air Force to accommodate five aircraft - three Boeings and two ATR planes. The runway, too, has been lengthened. "Landing of two or more aircraft is now not a problem. We are hopeful that Zoom Airways would soon ply on this route," the official said.
The Upper Assam Chamber of Commerce (UACC) here has time and again submitted memoranda to the district administration and the state government to improve the facilities at Jorhat Airport and take initiatives to ply more aircraft.
UACC president O.P. Gattani said Jorhat was the second important place after Guwahati in Assam and it was deplorable that one service provider operated from here.
Jorhat is an educational, research and economic hub in Upper Assam with several colleges, institutes and universities. The Assam Arakan Basin of ONGC has its headquarters here, Oil India Limited also has a division and the district has about 200 small and big tea gardens. It also has an air force and an army base here.
Former director of AAI, Jorhat, Suni Patkar, had said a proposal had been sent to the Centre for the construction of a new 5,000 sq. metre terminus building and upgrade of other facilities.
