Spicejet launches services to J&K

With the launch of the airline, the two cities will now be linked to New Delhi with non-stop services by B 737-800 aircraft.

The local services would also be available between Jammu and Srinagar. Inaugurating the airline's maiden flight between Jammu and Srinagar, Deputy Chief Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig said it has revolutionised the air travel in Jammu and Kashmir.

The introduction of such low cost airlines in the state would boost the tourism as it would be affordable for travellers from even middle and low-income groups, Baig said.

Besides Srinagar and Jammu, Spicejet is operating its services to seven other destinations including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Delhi, Goa, Kolkata, Mumbai and Pune.

Baig said with a perceptible change in the security situation visible on the ground, tourist arrivals to the state were picking up and this should be supplemented with adequate air and ground transport facilities.

Baig, who also holds tourism portfolio, said around 54 lakh pilgrims have visited Vaishno Devi shrine between January-October this year against 53 lakh pilgrims during corresponding period last year.

The tourist arrivals in Kashmir valley, he said, had gone up from 3 lakh tourists last year to around 5.5 lakh between January-October this year.

Similarly, the tourist arrivals in Ladakh region have gone up from 34,000 to 40,000.  Baig said more airlines are planning to add the two cities to their destination to benefit from the tourist rush.