The Nagpur-Doha flight, which was suspended due to the Middle East crisis, is set to resume from May 21. Qatar Airways will be operating the flight four days a week, according to sources.
International Flights from Nagpur
Two international flights currently operate from Nagpur, connecting Doha, the capital of Qatar, and Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Sharjah flight, operated by Air Arabia, has also resumed services, now running twice a week. This flight was similarly suspended following the US-Iran war outbreak, but the operator initially ran some flights on a temporary basis before finally commencing regular operations over a week ago.
Impact on Travel
The Doha flight has been widely used by passengers traveling onward to Europe and even the United States. Raju Akolkar, honorary secretary of the Nagpur chapter of the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), stated, "Resuming the services will once again make travel easier." Akolkar added that travel agents are already receiving booking inquiries for the Doha flight.
Demand for Increased Connectivity
There have been persistent demands to enhance connectivity to other sectors, particularly towards eastern destinations. Akolkar noted, "The agents' body has often urged airlines to start services to sectors like Singapore, Hong Kong, or Thailand from Nagpur. However, Nagpur seems to be a neglected sector. This can be because the airlines' focus is on larger cities. Operators already run services towards the Far East from Chennai and even Hyderabad. There are chances that expansion of the Nagpur airport may attract more airlines."
The resumption of these flights marks a positive step for travelers in the region, offering renewed access to international destinations.
