JAISALMER: In a first for the city, a summer-schedule flight from Jaipur landed at Jaisalmer Airport on Sunday, marking a major step towards year-round connectivity and boosting tourism in the desert destination.The launch of the air service is an initiative under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Local hoteliers, businessmen, and companies came together to provide “viability gap funding” to support the service. After a long wait and repeated demand, the flight is expected to give a fresh push to tourism and development in the city. Traditionally, Jaisalmer’s tourism season has been limited to winters, with flight services suspended during the summer months. This long-standing trend has now been broken. The first 42-seater ATR aircraft, operated by Alliance Air, landed at Jaisalmer Airport on Sunday and was welcomed with traditional Rajasthani folk music. The arrival created excitement among tourism stakeholders and local residents. The flight will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Thursdays—ensuring connectivity during the off-season. Local hotel and tour operators played a key role in making the service operational. Learning from past experiences, business stakeholders supported the airline by pre-booking tickets to ensure a steady passenger load and the sustainability of the service. On its inaugural run, 12 passengers arrived in Jaisalmer from Jaipur. Those present at the airport included District Collector Anupama Jorwal, Superintendent of Police Abhishek Shivhare, former royal family member Rajmata Rajeshwari Raj Lakshmi, tourism entrepreneur Mayank Bhatia, and Sahin Hashan, along with other officials and residents. Meanwhile, four passengers departed from Jaisalmer to Jaipur. Rajmata Rajeshwari Raj Lakshmi said the direct flight would reduce travel time from 10–12 hours to just 1 hour and 45 minutes, providing a major boost to Jaisalmer’s tourism-driven economy, even during peak summer conditions. Tourism activity in Jaisalmer usually slows down between April and September. However, with this initiative, efforts are being made to promote night tourism. Plans include illuminating historical monuments, organising desert safaris, and hosting cultural programmes to attract visitors. District Collector Anupama Jorwal said efforts are underway to develop Jaisalmer as a year-round tourist destination. New experiences such as dune walks, evening events, and stargazing activities are being introduced. The focus is also on promoting high-value, low-volume tourism and attracting content creators and adventure enthusiasts. Officials aim to position Jaisalmer as an “all-weather destination” by improving infrastructure and creating a calendar of local events to ensure a steady flow of tourists throughout the year. Businessman Mayank Bhatia said the Jaipur flight aims to boost tourism during the off-season. He added that the initiative is the result of collective efforts under the PPP model, with stakeholders supporting it through viability gap funding. He also said the new air service would benefit medical emergencies, business travel, and administrative work. Critically ill patients can now be transported quickly to major hospitals in Jaipur, while traders and residents will benefit from reduced travel time and better connectivity.
