Indigo Resumes Flight Bookings for Surat-Udaipur and Surat-Indore Routes
The airline's decision follows a brief suspension, while the Kolkata-Surat route remains pending.
Indigo Airlines has reopened bookings for fights connecting Surat to Udaipur and Indore, set to commence on August 21. This decision comes on the heels of a sudden suspension of bookings for these routes, as well as the Surat-Kolkata route which began on July 1 and July 3 respectively.
While this move bolsters Surat's connectivity with two additional cities, the Kolkata-Surat connection remains in limbo. The earlier suspension led to a flurry of cancellations for passengers who had opted for the Kolkata-Bangkok-Surat route, resulting in palpable dissatisfaction amongst Surat's travel community. However, in a gesture of goodwill, Indigo redirected affected passengers through the Bengaluru-Bangkok-Surat route, ensuring ticket refunds and rebookings.
Moreover, Indigo has opted for a 72-seater ATR aircraft for its Surat-Udaipur and Surat-Indore journeys, aligning with the anticipated travel demand.
In related news, there's ongoing discussion about the naming of Surat airport. Proposals by local citizens and organizations suggest naming it after notable figures like Veer Kavi Narmad and Morarji Desai. However, Narendra Singh, Deputy Secretary, Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, has emphasized the need for a formal proposal from the state government by May 18, 2023. Typically, the state assembly would pass a resolution, which the central government would then approve, finalizing the naming.