Chennai, Sept 29:
Air connectivity between Salem and Chennai is set to receive a boost with IndiGo deciding to operate two direct flights daily on the route from October 25.
At present, one flight operates daily between Salem and Chennai from the Salem airport at Kamalapuram in Omalur. IndiGo also operates daily services connecting Salem with Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Kochi.
With the introduction of the additional service, passengers will have two direct flight options between Salem and Chennai every day.
According to the schedule provided by airport authorities, the first flight will depart from Chennai at 11 am and arrive in Salem at 12.10 pm. The return flight will leave Salem at 12.30 pm and reach Chennai at 1.35 pm.
The second service will depart from Chennai at 3.40 pm and arrive in Salem at 4.50 pm. The aircraft will then leave Salem at 5.10 pm and reach Chennai at 6.15 pm.
The additional service is expected to benefit businesspeople, traders and members of the public travelling between the two cities.
Salem is an important industrial and commercial centre in western Tamil Nadu, while Chennai serves as the State capital and a major business, administrative and transport hub. The increase in flight frequency is therefore expected to provide passengers with greater flexibility in planning their journeys.
Representatives of trade and business organisations have welcomed the decision, saying that the additional air service could support economic activity and industrial development in the Salem region.
The second daily flight will also provide an alternative for passengers who may find the timings of the existing service inconvenient. The new schedule is set to come into effect from October 25.