Agartala, Sep 3 (UNI) Air India has announced to provide direct flight services linking North East India with the major national and international cities.

Talking to media persons here today, Chairman-Managing Director of Air India, V Thulasidas said that they have a plan to provide Airbus A-320 replacing existing Boeing 737 aircraft in all northeastern states and these will be connected with major cities of the country making a little stopover at Kolkata.

Mr Thulasidas boarded the maiden A-320 aircraft this morning between Delhi and Agartala, which started daily operation in the route today.

''Air India passengers are now getting direct boarding passes at their home airport even for international flights and Air India is taking all the service responsibilities of the passengers, which is giving us business as well as satisfaction to the customers,'' Mr Thulasidas said.

He also assured that the ATR aircraft would be withdrawn from Kolkata route those have been operating from different Northeastern destinations and made it clear that ATR would operate only in the NE states.

Mr Thulasidas also met Chief Minster Manik Sarkar and Governor D N Sahaya during his few hours visit to the state.

During the meeting, the chief minister had asked him to consider the initiation of the proposed plan in Kailashahar and Kamalpur airports while Air India CMD assured to examine it.

Reacting to the decision of introducing a dedicated regional airline, connecting all important airports of the region by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) in place of Alliance Air, currently operating the regional air service, Mr Thulasidas said Air India is considering the upgradation of the service in the region.

UNI