Gaya: Though Myanmar Airways International has been operating a flight on Yangon-Gaya route in the tourist season (October-March) for the last several years, the airline would be, for the first time, operate an off season flight too. However, the frequency of the flight would be scaled down.Confirming the operation of the Myanmar Airways International flight on the Gaya-Yangon route during the off season too, Gaya airport director Dilip Kumar said in April, the Myanmar Airways International would be operating the flight six days a week. From May onwards till the commencement of tourist season, the airline would operate a weekly flight every Monday. Air India too operates a weekly flight on the Delhi-Gaya-Yangon route.The airport director said the Srilankan Airlines would operate Gaya-Colombo flight from July this year. Unlike pilgrims and tourists from Europe and several South East Asian countries, Sri Lankans visit Bodh Gaya in large numbers in the rainy season (July-August) and for that reason Srilankan Airlines has scheduled its flights to synchronise it with demand.On resumption of normal flight on the Gaya-Varanasi-Delhi route, the airport director said the Varanasi airport runway was being repaired and recarpeted. Recarpeting of the Gaya airport too was under progress necessitating the issuance of NOTAM (notice to airmen) at Gaya airport between 3pm and 6am. Flights are not allowed to land or take off during these 15 hours.Kumar said the ongoing runway repair work at the Varanasi airport would be completed on May 31 and normal flight schedule of the Gaya-Varanasi-Delhi route would be resumed from June 1 onwards.Asked about the long pending demand of stakeholders, including Gaya MP Hari Manjhi, for more flights on the Gaya-Delhi route, the airport director said the facilities for additional flights are available at the Gaya airport and it is for the airlines to take a call on the matter. He claimed that facilities like aero bridge, separate conveyor belt for international passengers, tie up with Abhay Institute of Medical Science for providing healthcare to passengers in times of need, money exchange and baggage handling are doing well. The aero bridge facility has brought much relief for passengers suffering from physical disadvantages.

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