Breaking new grounds in the aviation sector, private airlines Air Sahara on Saturday launched the country's first organised domestic and international 'hub' services in Hyderabad, aiming at improving air connectivity and cutting down travel time.
Through the hub, a relatively untapped concept, the airlines hopes to consolidate traffic through a unique scheduling and by using shorter halt and faster connecting flights, promises to cut down travel time considerably.
The company has invested Rs 20 million (Rs 2 crore) in the project.
"The opening of the hub ushers in a new era for domestic travelers who can now experience the convenience of reduced travel time and increased connectivity," Air Sahara chief executive officer Rono Dutta said after the inauguration by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy at the Rajiv Gandhi airport.
In the first phase, the airline would operate 126 flights connecting 14 destinations including Delhi, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Cochin, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Coimbatore and Lucknow while in the second phase Kathmandu and Colombo will be connected.
Dutta said Sahara also intends to connect the hub to destinations like London, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Singapore once all government approvals are received.
A massive infrastructure, including hangars and additional lounges, will be developed to handle increased traffic.
Explaining the hub concept, an Air Sahara official said that the airlines has selected certain northern and western cities which it will connect to certain southern and eastern cities through Hyderabad.
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