Summer vacation at Rajkot International Airport: 1.21 lakh passengers handled in May: Air India's flights from Rajkot to Mumbai and Delhi suspended till July 31 due to rising fuel prices

The number of air passengers at Rajkot International Airport has increased by 25 per cent in the month of May as the summer vacation has paid off. In May last year, 1,21,158 tourists were registered as tourists from all over Saurashtra, including Rajkot residents, chose Rajkot airport for air travel. However, due to the hike in air fuel prices, Air India's flights from Rajkot to Delhi and Mumbai will be cancelled till July 31. According to sources in the Airport Authority, Rajkot's international airport has seen a 25 per cent increase in air passengers with 14 flights daily. In the month of May, many families and groups from Saurashtra, including Rajkot, travelled from Rajkot International Airport to travel to and from the country and abroad for tours. In comparison, 95,555 arrivals and 61,603 departures from 416 flights in May took the total number of passengers to 1,21,158. Air India and IndiGo Airlines will operate daily flights to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai and Pune four days a week, while 14 flights including 13 daily flights will be operated by Air India and Indigo Airlines to Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai and Pune four days a week. However, since there is not a single international flight yet, one has to run to catch connecting flights from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Delhi to go abroad. The demand to start international flights from Rajkot is yet to be accepted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation. In May, 13-14 flights were flown daily with 4 days (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday) flights to Delhi-4, Mumbai-4, Navi Mumbai-2, Hyderabad-1, Bangalore-1 and Pune for 4 days a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday). The Rajkot International Airport has been hit hard by the rising cost of airfuel due to the Iran-US Middle East war. Air India has decided to close its Rajkot-Delhi-Rajkot and Rajkot-Mumbai-Rajkot routes from July 2 to July 31. Air India's 10 am AC 885/886 Delhi-Rajkot-Delhi and 16:00 pm AC 2730/2731 Mumbai-Rajkot-Mumbai will remain closed till July 31. IndiGo Airlines has also decided to diversify its daily flights to Hyderabad and Navi Mumbai from June 16. As a result, domestic services at Rajkot International Airport are being affected. Air passenger movements in the last 5 months Mass - Number of passengers - Flight January - 1,39,693-381 February - 1,26,528-344 March - 1,16,786-376 April - 95,309 -408 May - 1,21,158 -416 flights from Rajkot Airport from today reduced from 14 to 12 Flight No. - Route - Departure from Rajkot IGO 6174/5004 - Delhi - 7. 55 - Daily AIC 2785/2786 - Mumbai - 8.35 - Daily IGO 7045/7046 - Navi Mumbai - 8.25 - Daily IGO 5156/233 - Mumbai - 9.15 - Daily IGO 956/957 - Pune - 10.20 - Tue, Wednesday, Thursday IGO 2284/2283 - Mumbai - 13.45 - Daily IGO 6507/6508 - Bangalore - 15.55 - Daily IGO 273/5271 - Mumbai - 16.20 - Daily IGO 6983/6984 - Delhi - 17.50 - Daily IGO 2100/2104 - Navi Mumbai - 19.35 - Daily IGO 2537/2538 - Delhi - 20.00 - Daily IGO 6823/6824 - Hyderabad - 20.10 - Daily