Air India is further strengthening its domestic presence with the introduction of a new link between Dehradun - the state capital of Uttarakhand and Lucknow - the state capital of Uttar Pradesh, also known as the city of Nawabs. The four times weekly service will be launched from May 2, 2013 and is part of the carrier’s business strategy to link more tier-2 and tier-3 cities across India.

The flight, operated using a Bombardier CRJ700, will provide a much needed boost to tourism and trade between the two states and the two cities and will provide enhancing connectivity between two destinations already part of the Air India route network. The carrier currently offers two daily flights to Mumbai and a daily rotation to New Delhi from Lucknow providing further transfer options across India and into international markets. It also provides a daily schedule from Dehradun to New Delhi.

Lucknow, the second largest city of north and central India boasts of renowned institutions of learning. The city also accounts for a major part of the exports in handicraft from the state including marble products, textiles, art pieces, gems and jewellery, brass work, silk, leather goods, glass items etc. Operations at the city’s Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport are currently dominated by low-cost carrier IndiGo, but Air India currently has an 11.3 per cent share of seat capacity.

Located in the foothills of the Himalayas between the Ganges and the Yamuna, Dehradun is famous for its picturesque landscape and pleasant climate providing a gateway to the tourist destinations of Mussoorie, Nainital, the holy cities of Haridwar and Rishikesh and the Himalayan pilgrimage circuit of Char Dham.

Besides, the city is also a famous centre for learning, known for institutions like the Forest Research Institute, the Indian Military Academy and the Doon School to name just a few. The city’s Jolly Grant Airport is much smaller in scale than Chaudhary Charan Singh Airport and alongside Air India the only other scheduled operators currently are Jet Airways and Spicejet which both also serve New Delhi from the destination.