Alliance Air, the sole operator at the Kullu-Manali airport at Bhuntar, has released its Kullu-Delhi flight schedule for the December 16 to January 15 period. The new flight schedule, operational five days a week, except Sundays and Fridays, comes with a significant reduction in fares. Tickets have been priced around Rs 8,000, nearly half to a third of the earlier fares that ranged between Rs 15,000 and Rs 26,000 per seat. This affordability boost is a clear positive sign for the upcoming Christmas and New Year festivities. Furthermore, in a move indicating longer-term planning, the airline has also published its Delhi-Kullu schedule extending all the way to March 27, 2026.
Alliance Air had previously reduced its daily services to just four flights a week, creating a squeeze on capacity. Subsequently, the flight schedule for the peak season was not released for a long time, aggravating the crisis.
The impact has been severe and multifaceted. Aviation and tourism expert Budhi Prakash Thakur directly links the delay to a major impact on bookings for the Christmas and New Year season, as travellers were unable to confirm flights. Kullu Travel Agents Association president Atishaye says that uncertainty has left agents and tourists in a dilemma even as bookings for the next summer season have begun. He urges the airline to urgently release schedules for at least six months in advance to allow proper planning, a standard practice in stable aviation markets.
Kullu resident Arun says that he was unable to plan a trip to Australia due to the uncertain Kullu-Delhi flight schedule over the past few months. His experience underscores how poor regional connectivity can stifle not just tourism but also the personal and professional mobility.
The resolution of the immediate schedule crisis for Kullu is a temporary fix. The recurring nature of these disruptions points to need for more robust planning and communication from operators serving remote and tourist-critical routes.
