Desperate to woo industries, West Bengal launches a flight from Cooch Behar

West Bengal is desperate to woo industries and, before the annual Bengal Global Business Summit, the state has launched a flight from Cooch Behar - it is an effort to link far-flung destinations. A 9-seater fixed-wing aircraft would operate four days a week on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
It would link Durgapur, Calcutta, Bagdogra and Cooch Behar over a three-and-a-half-hour journey and the fare would be Rs 5,500 (minus taxes). The flights would be on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 30 December 2015.

Aviation industry insiders are of the opinion that for any company that wants to run flights along the proposed route, it would cost around Rs 1.6 crore for flying 16 days a month. However, it is said that the cost would be Rs 58 lakhs - and, there is confusion.
The flights would be operated by Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Limited (BAPL) who have developed the airport in Andal - and, thy have selected Spirit Air Private Limited for running the flights to Cooch Behar after inviting tenders. Obviously, the state would have to subsidize it.
Incidentally, in November 2011, a flight had started from Cooch Behar but it was withdrawn within a few months of the start because of lack of passengers on the route. The lack of industry told on the service.

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