The expansion of the aviation industry following the inauguration of the Donyi Polo airport has given an impetus to air travel in the state. However, air connectivity – one of the most vital factors in linking rural Arunachal as well as connecting it with mainland India – still leaves much to be desired. Several places that have landing facilities are either not being used or are underutilised.
There are several advanced landing grounds (ALGs) that have been completed but are not being fully utilised to their capacity. Currently, Alliance Air operates flights to Ziro, Pasighat, and Tezu airports. Given their locations in or near popular tourist areas, these airports can be utilised more effectively to increase passenger flow.
Therefore, the recent meeting of Civil Aviation Minister Balo Raja with private airline operators is an important step towards improving the current situation. The minister met representatives of Alliance Air and SpiceJet regarding flight connectivity to remote locations of the state, as well as to major education and healthcare hubs like Bengaluru and Chennai.
If the meeting translates into concrete action, it could help revamp air connectivity in the state, as the aviation sector remains severely underutilised.