Prayagraj: Air connectivity from Prayagraj is set for a major boost in the winter schedule, with IndiGo and Akasa Air planning to launch new services to Mumbai and Jewar (Noida International Airport).If approved, passengers will get an additional Mumbai flight and, for the first time, direct air connectivity between Prayagraj and Jewar.The proposed expansion comes as a welcome relief for air travellers after a steady decline in flight services from Prayagraj over the past few months. Several routes have seen reduced frequencies, limiting travel options and affecting connectivity with major cities.Akasa Air is planning to restore its regular Mumbai service. The airline earlier operated a daily flight on the route but later scaled back operations, and currently flies only on Mondays. With demand on the Mumbai sector remaining strong, the airline is now preparing to resume regular services under the winter schedule.IndiGo is also planning to strengthen its presence at Prayagraj Airport by introducing a second daily flight to Mumbai. The additional frequency is expected to offer greater flexibility to business travellers, students and tourists while easing dependence on limited flight timings.Another key proposal is the launch of a direct flight between Prayagraj and Jewar, home to the upcoming Noida International Airport. The service was originally expected to begin in March but was delayed due to the non-availability of airport slots. Officials are optimistic that the required slots will be allocated under the winter schedule, paving the way for the long-awaited route.Prayagraj Airport director Ganesh Yadav said IndiGo has proposed an additional Mumbai flight along with a new Prayagraj-Jewar service, while Akasa Air is preparing to resume its regular Mumbai operations.At present, Prayagraj has flight connectivity with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Bhubaneswar and Bilaspur. However, several routes do not operate throughout the week, and the airport has no scheduled commercial flights on Saturdays, forcing passengers to either alter their travel plans or use nearby airports.Meanwhile, passenger traffic at Prayagraj Airport declined by nearly 20% in June compared with the same month last year, following a steady reduction in flight operations after the Maha Kumbh. Air services to Lucknow, Raipur, Pune, Gorakhpur, Dehradun, Bhopal and Indore have been discontinued. The airport recorded only 266 aircraft movements in June, the sharpest decline since June 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic.
