Boosting relations with South Asia, Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal flags off first flight to Bangkok

News Bharati    23-Sep-2019
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Guwahati, September 23: Accelerating Assam’s initiative to transform Guwahati as a gateway to the ASEAN region, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday flagged off the first flight to Bangkok at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport. The first flight which took off from LGBI Airport witnessed the traditional water saluting. 

Industry and Commerce Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary, Chief Minister’s Media Adviser Hrishikesh Goswami, MLA Bimal Bora and a host of other dignitaries were present on the occasion. Nok Air, will be flying its sortie between Guwahati and Bangkok, has carefully drafted its sorties to enable passengers to reach the destination at Don Mueang near Bangkok in less than three hours, offering a convenient connection to both business and leisure travellers twice in a week.

 

Chief Minister Sonowal viewed that introduction of the flight is not just an extension of airline route but more importantly a futuristic gesture, which will go a long way in reinforcing the cultural and economic ties between Assam and Thailand and strengthening the bilateral relations. CM Sonowal observed that connectivity has always remained a major bottleneck in the optimum realization of the growth prospects of the region.

Keeping this in view, the Central government has taken up steps to connect six South East Asian destinations from Guwahati under UDAN scheme. On July 1st this year, first Guwahati-Dhaka flight by Spicejet under International Air Connectivity Scheme was flagged off. The flight marked the roll-out of UDAN-International, pioneered by Assam Government with viability gap funding of Rs 100 crore.

The existing terminal building at the airport has a maximum handling capacity of 850 arrivals per departure passengers an hour. As an offshoot of the efforts of the State government, farmers of the Assam for the first time could successfully export their agricultural produce to London, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other foreign countries.