New Delhi could soon have a direct flight to the popular hilly destination and the capital of the state of Himachal Pradesh, Shimla. Located more than 2,000 meters above sea level, it is considered a tricky airport for landings and takeoffs. Currently, it is undergoing runway extension so that commercial flights can start again.

Alliance Air wants to resume Shimla service

India’s Ministry of Civil aviation is planning to launch several regional routes in the next 50 days, and the Delhi-Shimla route is on the list. Part of the Himalayan Range, Shimla is a popular tourist destination and sees plenty of travelers from Delhi and the larger North Indian region. A direct flight from the Indian capital will further boost its travel industry.

Alliance Air’s Delhi-Shimla flight was started in 2017 but had to be stopped in 2020, as the airline’s lease for the smaller ATR 42 aircraft expired. Since then, the airport only sees non-scheduled heli-taxi services. Now that the planes are expected to join its fleet soon, Alliance Air is eyeing the route again.

The Business Standard quotes Vineet Sood, Alliance Air’s CEO, as saying,

“We will receive our first new ATR 42-600 aircraft by July-end and another in September. We hope to start service between Delhi and Shimla, and Delhi and Kota from August 15 with the new aircraft. However, that depends upon the readiness of the airports.”

Alliance Air and ATR 42

Alliance Air is set to receive a pair of brand-new ATR 42-600s. The planes are being inducted into the carrier’s fleet specifically to operate in challenging airfields in mountainous regions of North India.

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ATR and Alliance Air signed a deal at this year’s Singapore Airshow to acquire two ATR 42-600 aircraft via Amsterdam-based lessor TrueNoord. Alliance Air currently operates an all ATR-72 fleet, and the smaller ATR-42s will help the carrier expand its network to less accessible regions, such as Shimla.

Airports in the Himalayan region of North India, such as Shimla, come with certain restrictions making them inaccessible even to the -72 variants of the ATR planes. Located at high altitudes and exposed to extreme temperatures, these airports often have short runways. The smaller ATR-42s offer a good mix of size and economics to make these routes viable for Alliance Air.

About Shimla Airport

Shimla Airport (SLV) is located around 22 km from the city center and situated at an altitude of around 2,196 meters. The table-top airport is considered one of the riskiest airports in India, and calls to extend its 1,200-meter-long runway have been around for years.

A new runway end safety area is being built as an additional safety measure so regular flights can start again. Landing aircraft at Shimla Airport is a challenge because of the gorges surrounding the runway. In 2020, an airport official told The Tribune,

“Though various safety measures have been adopted at the Shimla airport, the runway should be expanded on priority, keeping in view the safety of the passengers.”

With Alliance Air getting its new ATRs and Shimla Airport getting additional safety features, hopefully, passengers will soon have an option of a scheduled commercial flight to the popular destination.

Have you ever flown to Shimla? What was your experience like? Please leave a comment below.

Source: Business Standard