Air connectivity between Delhi, Shimla and Dharamshala has been restored, bringing relief to tourists and local travellers. Alliance Air flights, which had been disrupted for about a month due to technical and operational reasons, resumed on Sunday. The airline has also released its winter schedule for the route.
Under the new timetable, flights between Delhi and Shimla and Dharamshala will operate in the morning. Passengers had faced difficulties as air connectivity was affected ahead of the festive season and the start of the winter tourism season. Tickets for the Delhi-Shimla and Shimla-Dharamshala routes had been unavailable on Alliance Air’s online booking portal, and flights at Shimla airport were also cancelled on several days in October.
Flights cancelled on several October days
According to available official operational data, flights on the Delhi-Shimla-Delhi and Shimla-Dharamshala-Shimla routes were recorded as pre-cancelled or cancelled on October 11, 14, 15 and 17.
On Sunday morning, an Alliance Air aircraft from New Delhi landed at Shimla’s Jubbarhatti airport and then flew on to Dharamshala. After returning from Dharamshala, the same aircraft left Shimla for New Delhi.
On the first day, two arriving flights brought a total of 23 passengers to Shimla airport, while two departing flights carried 28 passengers. Shimla Airport Director Satish Kumar said air services have begun operating smoothly.
Alliance Air winter schedule
| Route | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|
| Delhi to Shimla | 7:40 AM | 8:50 AM |
| Shimla to Dharamshala | 9:15 AM | 10:05 AM |
| Dharamshala to Shimla | 10:30 AM | 11:20 AM |
| Shimla to Delhi | 11:45 AM | 12:55 PM |
Tourist movement to destinations such as Shimla and Dharamshala is expected to rise in winter. The restoration of direct air service from Delhi is expected to benefit both tourists and local travellers.
