Lack of passengers force Air India to close its Calcutta-Andal-Delhi route

Within one year, Air India has taken a decision to withdraw its flights from Andal in Burdwan district because of low passenger count. The national carrier had started its Calcutta-Andal-Calcutta service with a 44-seater ATR aircraft in May 2015 and, later, in December, it extended the route to Delhi and simultaneously introduced a bigger aircraft - an Airbus 319.
But - the poor passenger load has compelled it to close down its operations.
This has been reported in telegraphindia.com dated 15 June 2016.

As informed by a spokesperson of Air India, the last Calcutta-Andal-Delhi flight would take off on June 17 and those who have bookings after that will get full refund.
The poor load factor was the reason for this move. There would be an average of 80-90 per day. An Airbus 319 aircraft can carry 122 or 144 passengers and, against that, over the past month, the average daily passenger count has been just three for Andal and 80-90 for Delhi. There are 40-odd passengers from Calcutta, of whom three get down at Andal. Around another 50 would board the aircraft at the Burdwan airport for the onward journey to Delhi.
For a flight on the Calcutta-Andal-Delhi route to be viable, the average daily passenger load should be at least 100.


Image courtesy wikimediacommons.org

Some more interesting links -

Vistara to begin a daily flight from Kolkata to Delhi for travelers to Europe

Colony of red squirrels in Wales scared stiff due to rave parties

Turkey's plan to boost tourism - sends an Airbus A300 at the sea bottom


Mama comes calling on Moody (satire)

Didi plans new conquests via Rabindrasangeet (satire)

Lord Shiva and achhe din through Gangajal (satire)


Christina Grimmie shot dead by unidentified gunman in Florida

TE3N first day box office collection of Rs 2.61 crores in India fails to impress

Sonu Nigam opens up on technology and modern day music


Ukraine police arrest a French citizen to foil terror bid during Euro 2016

Delhi police unearths a kidney transplant racket - arrests kingpin from Kolkata

Car bomb attack on Istanbul police leave 11 dead