Many minor towns in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Madhya Pradesh may lose air access as Trujet services are halted. It is common knowledge that when a region becomes more integrated into the mainstream, connection boosts economic well-being and aids development.
For long years, India was known for its weak connectivity. While the country has achieved great progress in terms of communication connectivity, physical connectivity, particularly in the so-called developed regions of the country, leaves much to be desired. The expansion of air transportation is one of the primary variables for bridging physical connectedness. Unfortunately, even in peninsular India, aviation connection is not very strong, which is a source of concern.
The decision of the Hyderabad-based Turbo Megha Airways Pvt Limited to suspend its operations has caused consternation and disappointment not just in Telangana but even in neighbouring Karnataka. Turbo Megha Airways operated Trujet, is an airline which focussed on the smaller towns under the UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik) or regional connectivity scheme.
Things would have certainly got a leg-up if Trujet had continued but also that wasn’t the case.
The presence of the bigger and competitive players in the industry has been one of the causes for the collapse of the regional airlines.
The pandemic aggraated the troubles for the Indian civil aviation sector and that seemed to have hit even Trujet as airline traffic completely thinned out.