The Srinagar-Dubai direct flight that brought Srinagar on the world aviation map is set to be routed through Amritsar from 2010. The decision has reportedly been taken owing to a “poor response” to the direct flight.

“We have a plan to route the flight through Amritsar,” Air India Station Manager at Srinagar International Airport, Mohammad Iqbal told The Indian Express. “But I think a final decision in this regard has not been taken yet.”

The Air India booking site, however, mentions that the flight will be routed through Amritsar in Punjab. The direct flight from Srinagar to Dubai takes a little less than five hours while the flight via Amritsar will take 25 minutes more.

The first direct international flight, by Air India, from Srinagar to Dubai was flagged off by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on February 14 this year. The development had fuelled a hope of a tourist flow to the Valley from West Asia.

The airline, which runs the flight once a week, had said that it would increase the frequency of the flights if the response was good. Several private airliners, too, had sought permission from the Civil Aviation ministry to run direct international flights from the Srinagar international airport.

The flights will take the new route from January 1, 2010. “I have no knowledge about it (routing of flight through Amritsar),” said Director, Airport Authority in Srinagar, O S Tyagi. “But even if this is the case, it will not affect the international character of the flight. I am sure the same flight will proceed to Dubai from Amritsar.”

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