AP Chambers urges nonstop Vijayawada‑Kochi flights for pilgrim season

The Andhra Pradesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation has asked IndiGo and Air India to start nonstop flights linking Vijayawada and Kochi.

Request Details

The body submitted a formal appeal to the airlines, urging them to launch the service before the Sabarimala pilgrimage period that runs from November through January.

Reasoning

Potluri Bhaskara Rao, the federation’s president, said roughly three lakh pilgrims from the Vijayawada catch‑area travel to the Sabarimala shrine each year. Direct connections to Kochi would give a faster option for devotees from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, he added, and asked for suitable frequency and timings to match the seasonal surge. Presently travelers must connect via other cities, which lengthens travel time and raises costs. The chamber also pressed for year‑round flights, pointing to rising demand for tourism, medical visits, business trips and other passenger traffic from Vijayawada and the state capital Amaravati. Improved air links are expected to attract more patients to Andhra Pradesh’s growing medical hubs and support business ties between the two states.

Context

Nonstop links between a regional hub and a major airport can boost local economies and ease crowding during peak pilgrimage months. IndiGo and Air India already serve several nearby airports, making the proposed nonstop a logical extension of their schedules.