Facing criticism over severe curtailment of flights to Lakshadweep, Air India today announced the launch of flights on six days a week between Chennai and Agatti from September 24.The national carrier also announced upgrading of aircraft  from turboprop to jet  from next week on flights between Delhi, Dehradun, Allahabad and Kanpur to meet the increased demand on these sectors.Air India will start operations from Chennai to Agatti in Lakshadweep islands six days a week from September 24, making it the 64th destination in its domestic network, an airline spokesperson said.Lakshadweep MP Hamdullah Sayeed had in the last session of Parliament said that Air India had virtually closed down operations from Agatti despite high demand.While Agatti would be connected to Chennai via Kochi on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, it would be connected to Bangalore via Chennai on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, the spokesperson said, adding that the service would give a boost to tourism to the scenic islands.
Passengers travelling from Delhi and Mumbai to Agatti will get same day connections in both directions at Bangalore, the spokesperson said.
On upgrading of air services to Tier-II cities of Dehradun, Kanpur and Allahabad from September 22, he said the airline would provide jet aircraft instead of earlier turboprop services on the two sectors.The flight between Delhi and Dehradun, presently being operated with ATR aircraft, will be operated with 122 seater Airbus A-319 aircraft. The aircraft would have eight Executive and 114 Economy Class seats.The flight on the Delhi-Kanpur-Allahabad-Delhi route will be operated with a 70-seater Canadian Regional Jet, the spokesperson said.