MYSURU: The elections to Karnataka assembly attracted more VVIP’s than tourists in April- May as more than 115 chartered flights arrived at the Mysore Airport.Mysuru Airport that operates a scheduled True Jet flight between Mysuru-Chennai and Oriental training flight, had many chartered flights from across the country with ministers flying in to campaign during the elections. The airport remained busy with movement of VVIPs and thousands of party workers from across the region visiting the airport to receive their leaders.
As per AAI, 20 operators have operated flights and few like Orbit Aviation, VRL Logistics, Bharat Hotel Limited operated more than ten trips. Few airlines also operated helicopters carrying leaders of all political parties.The Mysuru airport was used most as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah, Congress President Rahul Gandhi and other leaders arrived there during their month-long campaign.
Though Mysuru Airport got negligible monetary benefits from chartered flights utilising its facilities but flights operated by different airlines has put the Mysuru Airport on aviation map. Mysuru Airport director Manoj Kumar Mishra said 115 flights flew from April 1 to May 14. The Mysuru- Chennai flights is carrying to its fullest capacity and this has made other operators further tap its potential.