A special flight carrying 146 passengers from the Maldives to Trichy for the first time was greeted with a watery salute at the Trichy airport. Special rescue flights are being operated to various foreign countries including Muscat, Oman, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia, Doha under the Vande Bharat project. But so far no flights have been operated from Trichy Airport to the Maldives.
It was reported that Indians were trapped in the Maldives. Following this, it was decided to operate a special flight on behalf of Air India Express. The first Air India Express flight from the Maldives on Friday arrived in Trichy with 146 passengers on board.
For the first time in 16 years between Trichy and the Maldives, it is customary to greet the splashing water. Accordingly, at 1.50 pm, the first flight from the Maldives was greeted with a water salute at the Trichy Airport. Passengers on the flight were given a bouquet at the airport and given an enthusiastic welcome.
Earlier, no passengers were on board the flight which departed from Trichy to Maldives at 8.15 am. Instead, about 6.1 tonnes of vegetables, malls and food items were sent to the Maldives.
The launch of the aircraft from the Maldives is expected to be another milestone in the development of Trichy Airport, officials said. Flights from Trichy Airport to Singapore, Maldives, Sharjah, Kuala Lumpur and Dubai departed yesterday morning under the Vande Bharat project.
Similarly, special flights from Doha, Sharjah, Dubai, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Maldives arrived at Trichy Airport from yesterday morning till evening. It is noteworthy that yesterday 12 flights departed from Trichy on the same day and arrived at Trichy Airport long days later.