To provide greater pan-national air connectivity under UDAN scheme – connecting the unconnected
flybig, a scheduled commuter airline and IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) have entered into an agreement to facilitate travellers to book air tickets for flybig’s scheduled air operations routes through the air ticket booking facility available on IRCTC booking site & Mobile application so that everyone can travel to remote areas where rail connectivity is unavailable. This partnership with flybig is an initiative to make travel partners more accessible to diverse parts of India that have recently been connected to the rest of the country. This partnership is under the ambit of Government of India’s flagship scheme, ‘DEKHO APNA DESH and UDAN “UDE DESH KA AAM NAAGRIK”.
Commenting on the strategic partnership, Capt. Sanjay Mandavia, CMD, flybig said This partnership with IRCTC will allow the passengers to book their travel tickets to flybig’s northeast destinations seamlessly without hassle through the IRCTC portal online for both its individual and corporate travellers.
“It is a step forward from ‘Rail miles to Air miles’ – underlining flybig’s philosophy and aspiration to connect every farthest airport location, providing last mile connectivity options to those locations hitherto unconnected even by Rail – at the most affordable fares and catalyzing growth of state and regional economic market opportunities.”
“It is my strong belief that every new destination connected by flybig will not only enhance air accessibility and boost tourism across destinations but also open new vistas of economic opportunity of untapped demographic landscapes of India. “Furthermore, I do believe that this facility will augment movement of Indian security forces – Armed & Para Military forces to various critical sectors in the north eastern states.” Capt. Mandavia added.
Indian Railways Tourism and Catering Corporation (IRCTC) is pleased to have joined hands and signed an agreement with flybig, a new-age regional scheduled commuter airline operating in the North East. IRCTC enters into such agreements from time to time in order to boost domestic tourism and facilitate ease of booking and air connectivity access to even the remote area of North East under the Government of India’s flagship scheme, ‘DEKHO APNA DESH.’
flybig launched its services in the North East in the second week of May 2021. Currently it operates across 4 states and 8 destinations including Kolkata (West Bengal), Dibrugarh, Guwahati, Lilabari, Rupsi -all in Assam, Agartala in Tripura and Passighat & Tezu in Arunachal Pradesh. flybig has operates one ATR 72-500 and Two ATR 72-600 aircraft. It also plans to bring in two Bombardier Q400 transport aircrafts on wet lease into its fleet to further enhance capacity and add further routes
flybig sees itself as an industry partner to the Government of India in its endeavor to provide air connectivity under the UDAN scheme, with the primary goal of increasing air route access to Tier II and Tier III cities and towns, as well as making air travel more affordable, thereby acting as a catalyst to promote and broaden economic development, greater economic inclusiveness, boost employment and livelihood generation, and thus enhance development.