Guwahati, June 10 (PTI): Air India's operations in north- east are profitable with a market share of 17% and it is now looking to expand presence in the region, including a direct Guwahati-Bangkok flight, a top official said today. "Some of our routes are not very profitable in north-east and has less occupancy. But we get a viability gap funding from the NEC. So, overall our operations are profitable in NE," Air India Chairman and MD Ashwani Lohani told reporters here. The company received a funding of Rs 35 crore from the North Eastern Council (NEC) during 2016-17 to operate flights to loss making routes in the region, he added. Lohani said the state-run carrier operates 24 flights daily to and fro north-east and is currently enjoying a market share of 17 per cent in the region against the pan-India share of 13-14%. Talking about addition of new flights, the CMD said Air India is considering to operate a direct flight either between Guwahati and Bangkok or between Guwahati and Kunming thrice a week. The airline is planning to start a new flight between New Delhi and Guwahati from June 28, taking the number of flights on this route to two, he said further. From September 1, there will be a flight service between Guwahati-Dibrugarh-Pasighat and a new route either between Mumbai and Guwahati or between Hyderabad and Guwahati. Air India will also introduce a Delhi-Dibrugarh flight in November this year, he said.
