AI's 'connect India' flight makes maiden landing in Hubballi

The Bengaluru-Hubballi Air India flight (AI 9509), with 39 passengers on board, made its first landing here on Wednesday. 

The flight was given a customary two-water cannon salute on its arrival. While some passengers felt like being treated as kings, others complained that for a new route, Air India has allotted an old 48-seater aircraft.

Air India has been linking the remotest corners of the country, under the Centre’s ‘Connect India’ programme. The flight will make three trips a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday). The flight, piloted by Captain Jorge Cano, landed at the Hubballi airport at 4.57 pm.

Jayash Trivedi, a businessman from Ahmadabad, was the first to alight from the flight.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, he said, “We were treated like kings. At Bengaluru airport, we were made to cut a cake and light a lamp before the departure.”

An old aircraft being allotted for the route did not go down well with Satish Jagathal, a resident of Hubballi. The flight took off on the return journey with 42 passengers and four crewmen on board at 6.25 pm, after a cake was cut and a lamp was lit.

As per schedule, the Air India flight will arrive from Bengaluru at 5.05 pm and depart at 5.25 pm. Air India has fixed Rs 1,902 plus taxes as the fare for the service.