Dibrugarh, Sept. 8: Bookings have started for the direct SpiceJet flight from Guwahati to Silchar, slated to take off on October 3.

The direct Guwahati-Dibrugarh-Silchar flight will open direct linkages between the people of Barak with eastern Assam, which is largely dominated by tea gardens.

'We have opened our bookings for the SpiceJet flight from today. People from Dibrugarh have been demanding a daily flight from the town to Guwahati after Jet Airways discontinued its operation on July 15. Brijendra Singh, regional manager of SpiceJet, recently arrived at Mohanbari airport to inspect the facilities. He said the flight will start operations on October 3,'' Mughavi Zhimo, airport director of Dibrugarh, said. He said the direct flight will ease communication from Guwahati to Dibrugarh.

The tea industry and professionals from Dibrugarh welcomed the launch of the new flight and lauded chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal's efforts in this regard.

'For the first time a flight will connect Barak Valley with the Brahmaputra Valley which will help the tourism as well as tea sectors. People of both the areas will benefit from it,'' Suresh Varma, senior chartered accountant who is also a frequent flier and tea enthusiast from Dibrugarh, said. He said the direct flight will open business between Barak Valley and this part of the region.

At present, three flights operate from Dibrugarh airport.

'Besides having immense potential to usher in new avenues for trade and commerce, this SpiceJet flight will also provide a direct opportunity for the people of southern and eastern Assam in the Barak and Brahmaputra valleys respectively to come close to each other and create strong social bonds,'' Nabajyoti Borkakoty, a social activist from Dibrugarh, said.

Talking to The Telegraph today, Dibrugarh MLA Prashanta Phukan said it was very unfortunate when the Jet Airways flight was discontinued. 'Recently, chief minister Sonowal went to Guwahati by the Kamrup Express from Tinsukia because there is no direct flight to Guwahati from Mohanbari airport. All sections of people have been facing immense problems to travel to Guwahati. We appealed to the director-general of civil aviation to start the flight from September 15 but they shifted it to October 3,'' Phukan said.