Alliance Air, the only airline that flies to Lakshadweep, has increased flight frequency amidst the ongoing dispute between India and the Maldives.
Since Alliance Air is the only Indian airline that flies to Lakshadweep, more flights have been added to Kochi-Agatti-Kochi due to an increase in the number of tourists wishing to visit the island. According to a senior Alliance Air official, the extra flights will run on Sundays and Wednesdays, two days a week.
Now additional flight. @PMOIndia @Officejmscindia @JM_Scindia pic.twitter.com/rFaho8YU0T— Alliance Air (@allianceair) January 13, 2024
The surge in Lakshwadeep’s tourism
Every day, the airlines fly 70-seaters to the island. It is operating at maximum capacity, and every ticket purchased through March has been sold out, according to an airline official.
"We are getting lots of queries on the phone and social media regarding tickets. Following to the huge demand for tickets, an additional flight has been added to the route. If required frequency of the flight will be increased," the official said.
Ajay Singh, CEO of SpiceJet, recently announced at an Annual General Meeting that the airline has exclusive rights under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) for Lakshadweep and will shortly begin flights to the island. However, travel websites have reported a record number of inquiries regarding Lakshadweep.
The ongoing controversy
Lakshwadeep, India's smallest Union Territory, sprang to prominence after Prime Minister Modi released beautiful photos from his visit on January 22 and urged the island cluster to capitalize on beach tourism.
However, Maldivian Deputy Minister of Youth Empowerment Mariyam Shiuna made a derogatory and insulting reference to PM Modi's visit to the Indian island group in a social media post that was later removed.
Amid a social media backlash against the derogatory remarks made against Prime Minister Modi, leading figures in the Indian film industry and well-known figures endorsed the initiative to boost beach tourism in Lakshadweep, with the hashtag #BoycottMaldives trending widely on online forums.
Image Source: ETV Bharat
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