Gannavaram to Dubai flights by March end

​Guntur: Buoyed by the tremendous demand received during an online opinion poll conducted by the Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation, the state government has decided to take measures to inaugurate flights from Gannavaram to Dubai twice a week by March end.

According to sources in the APADC, over 20,000 responded favourably to the introduction of direct flights to Dubai. The demand for direct flights to Dubai was more compared to Singapore. While 20,000 opted for Dubai flights, only 15,000 voted for Singapore flights.

The state government will now call for tenders to operate flights to Dubai. After finalising the tenders, the flight operators will get necessary permissions and time slot from the Central government to operate flights from Gannavaram to Dubai.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu is of the opinion that if direct flights are operated from Gannavaram international airport, more investors will come to the sunrise state, which is useful to generate employment opportunities to youth. Tourism will also get a boost. At present Dubai-bound tourists are going to Hyderabad to take Dubai flights.

Speaking to The Hans India, Andhra Pradesh Airports Development Corporation Managing Director and CEO Virender Singh said, “the government is doing its best to operate direct flights to Dubai before March end. If flights are introduced to Dubai, the government is expected to get more investments in the state. When we have good infrastructure, investors will come to the state.”