Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Flickr Photo Pool -> Airliners-India -> Civil Aviation -> Airlines become pilgrim friendly
Post Info TOPIC: Airlines become pilgrim friendly
Aseem


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 599
Date:
Airlines become pilgrim friendly
Permalink Closed

so it seems airlines are becoming pilgrim friendly.  Nothing wrong with that, they are following the basic principle of business that is to give customers what they want


LCCs to tap the pilgrims’ progress

NEW DELHI: Low-cost carriers (LCCs) have found a new love: Pilgrim centres. Having made a significant presence in major cities, budget airlines such as Air Deccan and SpiceJet are now spreading their wings towards Buddhist destinations soon. Locations on their radar include Leh, Laddakh, Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Kullu and Dharamshala.

One may fly to Bodh Gaya and Kullu in Air Deccan from September this year. It also has plans to link Kolkata with Bodh Gaya and Kullu with Delhi, Spice Jet is all set to launch Delhi-Varanasi flight services from October ‘06. “The mission of Air Deccan is to connect remote cities with metros.

Pilgrim centres have tremendous potential, but they lack in proper connectivity. We intend to provide air-link between popular pilgrim centres with major towns and cities. This will not only help in boosting revenue but also promote domestic tourism,” Air Deccan managing director GR Gopinath told ET.

SpiceJet too has an ambition to fly to remote destinations like Leh, Ladakh and Dharamshala, but its major problem is lack of infrastructure. “Runways in these locations are not suitable for landing. The infrastructure in these airports are not suitable for our aircraft, which are bigger in size. Unless proper infrastructure is in place, potential of religious tourism cannot be fully tapped,” SpiceJet managing director Ajay Singh said.


Economic Times

I'd say after business traffic, it is the turn of pilgrimage that attracts lot of tourists.  Agreed railways will be hard to beat, but then a begining can be made.

Going further these airlines can tie up with Buddhist tourist to neighbouring countries like Nepal, Thailand and Sir Lanka.  I presume IC already flys Kathamandu-Varanasi.

rgds

VT-ASJ



__________________
Vive Le YYZ
tayara mechanici


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 312
Date:
Permalink Closed

Spiritual tourism is Indias biggest attraction, the mind, body, soul package promoted by Kerala is unique. The next state to take-off on this is Orissa, with its history of temples laced with beaches and nature reserve.


Tirupati can easily attract 1 E-170 daily from HYD,BOM,BLR & DEL marketed at the right price.



__________________
karatecatman


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2289
Date:
Permalink Closed

Once night landing gets off in Tirupati, and which is soon, expect a flood of air passengers.

__________________
KCM
himmat01


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 318
Date:
Permalink Closed

Would it be possible for a pilgrim to plan a return journey on the same evening? I have heard it takes days to get a pass for the darshan at Tirupati.

-- Edited by himmat01 at 18:35, 2006-07-29

__________________
karatecatman


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2289
Date:
Permalink Closed

Its seasonal.


But things are improving with a ticket/docket system that is computer-generated. The same things applies for ladoos. Ticket/docket and a conveyer belt to roll out the ladoos faster and cut the queues.   



__________________
KCM
karatecatman


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2289
Date:
Permalink Closed

http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/08/stories/2006070810700500.htm


Air Deccan launches flight to Tirupati


Special Correspondent





It will be a boon for devotees, says company official






SPREADING THE WINGS: Krishnaswamy, chief, corporate planning, Air Deccan (centre), walking towards the terminal in Tirupati airport after the inaugural flight touched the tarmac on Friday. S. Raman, AAI Officer, Tirupati, is also seen.



HYDERABAD: Low-cost airline Air Deccan on Friday introduced an early morning flight to the temple town of Tirupati, enabling devotees to have `darshan' of the Lord and return the same day.

The daily flight will leave here at 6.10 a.m. and reach Tirupati at 7.20 a.m. It would prove to be a convenient and time-saving option, Krishnaswamy, chief, corporate planning, told press persons at Tirupati airport after the 72-seater landed there.

He said devotees after completing their `darshan' could return to the airport to catch the 3.35 p.m. Air Deccan flight to Hyderabad which lands here 4.45 p.m. The existing Hyderabad-Tirupati plane, taking off at 2 p.m. and landing at Tirupati at 3.20 p.m., would serve devotees who wish to have early morning darshan (`suprabhata darshan'), by staying overnight.

He said the airline hoped to inter-connect the other major cities like Chennai, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam in future.



__________________
KCM
karatecatman


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2289
Date:
Permalink Closed

OLD STORY FROM 2004


 


http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/09/stories/2004120903651200.htm


New runway lighting systems at Tirupati


By T.S. Shankar







CHENNAI, DEC. 8. As part of its efforts to upgrade the navigational aids at airports to help the pilots, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has installed a "circling guidance lighting system" at the Tirupati airport in Renigunta.

Giving details of the new visual aid introduced on an experimental basis, the Southern Regional Executive Director of AAI, S.K. Saraswati, said a set of seven lights, white in colour, installed at both ends of the extended central line of the runway would guide the pilots while approaching the runway for landing. These are designed to emit a low intensity omni-directional light.

Another two sets of white flashing lights have been installed at the threshold of the runway at right angles to the runway, enabling the pilots to identify the runway threshold while circling the aerodrome. The AAI has imported these lights from Korea at a cost of Rs. 25 lakhs.

The new system will facilitate the pilots to land at "below minimum visibility limits" required under visual meteorological conditions. The system can be operated by a remote control device from the Air Traffic Control tower. The circling guidance lights, the first of its kind in the country, have been provided at the Tirupati airport in accordance with the guidelines laid down under Chapter 7 of the Aerodrome Design Manual, Mr. Saraswati said.



-- Edited by karatecatman at 19:11, 2006-07-29

__________________
KCM
the_380


Member

Status: Offline
Posts: 2450
Date:
Permalink Closed

Well IC even operates Gaya-BKK for mostly buddhists

__________________
Light travels faster than sound...thats why people appear bright, until you hear them talk!
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Flickr Photo Pool -> Airliners-India -> Civil Aviation -> Airlines become pilgrim friendly
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard