Bolstered with the success of direct flight with Kolkata, the Meghalaya government is now planning to have direct air connectivity with New Delhi.
The Meghalaya Transport Corporation (MTC) on February 7 floated a tender to select operator for the direct air link with New Delhi. The tender will close on February 24.
The MTC is planning to engage an operator to start flight services between Shillong and New Delhi, twice a week, initially for a period of three months.
So long, people travelling to New Delhi, have been boarding flights from Guwahati.
All regional carriers, scheduled carriers and international carriers, who are qualified to operate in Shillong-New Delhi sector, are allowed to participate in the bid, MTC officials said.
The tender papers mentioned that MTC is planning to introduce a 40 to 80 seater aircraft in the Shillong-New Delhi sector.
The MTC officials are optimistic that introduction of direct air links with New Delhi will play an important role in growth of the tourism sector in Meghalaya.
The MTC officials are optimistic that the flight to New Delhi may start by mid-April.
At present, the Shillong airport at Umroi, located about 32 kms north of the capital city, has only one direct flight to Kolkata.
On July July 20, last year, budget carrier IndiGo had started operations from Umroi airport with a 70-seater aircraft.
Meanwhile, the Meghalaya government is yet to take a final call whether it should go ahead with upgrading the airport or go for a Greenfield airport.