A spokesperson of the Himachal Pradesh Govt. informed today that IIC Technologies Limited (Air Himalaya) with their air operator permit will commence flights between Shimla, Kullu – Manali Dharamshala and Chandigarh from June 9.

Urban Development Minister Sudhir Sharma will flag off the flight from Shimla on 9th June 2016.

Flights between Shimla, Kullu - Manali, Dharamshala and Chandigarh

Spokesperson said that the company will ply its aircraft’s from Chandigarh to Kullu at 8.50 am, Kullu to Chandigarh at 9.50 am, Chandigarh to Shimla at 10.50 am, Shimla to Gaggal (Dharamshala) at 11.30 am, Gaggal (Dharamshala) to Shimla at 1.00 pm and Shimla to Chandigarh at 2.20 pm daily.
This will provide good air connectivity to the State besides boosting tourism activities, he added.

The Gaggal airport (Dharamshala) is the busiest of Himachal. Four flights were going to and fro from Delhi to Dharamshala daily. The cost of one-way ticket from Delhi to Dharamshala was about Rs 15,000 or more in the peak tourist season.

Flights between Shimla, Kullu - Manali, Dharamshala and Chandigarh

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After over three and a half years closed, the Shimla airport here is going to resume operations. Shimla’s airport at Jubbarhatti, located 2,196 meters above sea-level, has been shut for the scheduled flights since September 6, 2012, affecting tourists and business travelers to the state.

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However, airports at Kullu and Dharamshala in the state have been functioning.

Flights between Shimla, Kullu - Manali, Dharamshala and Chandigarh

Hospitality industry representatives are expecting good tourist arrivals with the restoration of the air link.

The small planes have already been a success in Nepal where they are landed even on kucha airstrips using the GPRS system. The story can be repeated in Himachal Pradesh.