Image credit : Illustrative Image

The much-awaited Coimbatore air link with Singapore has finally happened with Air India Express introducing its flight from New Delhi through Coimbatore from November 18, thanks to the efforts of Kongu Global Forum (KGF).

The association of socially responsible representatives from the seven districts of Coimbatore, Tirupur, Karur, Nilgris, Salem, Erode and Namakkal was formed in March 2017.

Coimbatore is the second largest city in Tamil Nadu known for its textiles, industries, commerce, education, information technology, health care and manufacturing and had been poorly connected internationally by air, said a statement.

Businessmen and tourists of the region have to travel to Kochi or Trichy by road or transit through Bengaluru or Chennai or Mumbai or New Delhi for international trips. Though domestically well-connected with other cities in the countries and increasing frequency of services, these were not in proportion with passenger and cargo movements, says the statement.

It was in this backdrop that the forum made efforts which got fructified through the Air India Express flight. As a result, businessmen and tourists from Kongu region and from Palakkad in Kerala can reap the benefits. Already Srilankan Airlines has connected Coimbatore with Colombo since July 2017.

In the KFG charter of demands includes a direct morning flight from Coimbatore to New Delhi and a return trip late in the afternoon, a stop in Pune via Chennai and Vijayawada and increase in the services of the existing Hyderabad route on a daily basis.

The forum said it was in constant touch with the Central and State governments for expansion and modernisation of Coimbatore airport to have better air connectivity which should result in higher passenger and cargo movement.