SpiceJet launches Hyderabad-Nashik UDAN flight

The guardian minister for Nashik, Chhagan Bhujbal, flagged off the first flight operations from HAL airport in Nashik, in the presence of district and state government officials. Officials of the ministry of civil aviation (MoCA) and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) were also present at the launch. 

So far, 297 routes and 53 airports have been operationalised under the UDAN scheme.

SpiceJet’s flight operations follow the successful launch of direct flight operations by Alliance Air on the Hyderabad-Nashik route, SpiceJet was awarded the Hyderabad-Nashik route under the RCS-UDAN-2 bidding process. The airline is being provided Viability Gap Funding (VGF) under the UDAN scheme to keep the fares affordable and accessible for the common people. 

SpiceJet will be operating four weekly flights and will deploy its 78-seater Q400 aircraft. Nashik is the 14th destination to be connected under UDAN by SpiceJet.

The Hyderabad-Nashik route received a massive demand from the passengers owing to the trade and tourism opportunities possessed by the Nashik city. Nashik is also called the city of pilgrimage. It is one of the 4 pilgrimage sites that organises Kumbh Mela which is held once every 12 years. The gateway city for the Shirdi Sai Temple and Trimbakeshwar Temple, Nashik in itself is a pilgrim tourist destination due to the presence of holy temples. Moreover, it is also known as the Grape and Wine capital of India.. Furthermore, the city is home to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) Aircraft Division Nashik that manufactures MiG and SU aircrafts along with K-13 missiles. In addition to these, Nashik has also been a cluster for many big manufacturers like Mahindra & Mahindra, Bosch, ABB, Crompton Greaves, ThyssenKrupp, CEAT, etc.