Good News for Air Travelers: Himachal Ties Up with Alliance Air for Daily Flights
In a move that’s set to make travel much easier, Himachal Pradesh has signed an agreement with Alliance Air to run daily flights on the Delhi–Shimla and Shimla–Dharamshala routes. Vivek Bhatia, Director of Tourism and Civil Aviation, shared the update today, explaining that the goal is to boost regional air connectivity and give tourism a real push.
This is a big step toward linking the national capital directly with Shimla and Dharamshala. Under the MoU, flights will operate all seven days a week on both routes.
According to Bhatia, the airline will use ATR 42-600 aircraft, which can seat 48 passengers. Commercial flights are expected to take off in the last week of April 2026, and the agreement will remain in effect for 12 months from the day operations begin.
The state government will cover the entire viability gap funding (VGF) for both routes—essentially bearing the full cost to make these flights sustainable. That works out to an estimated ₹32.64 crore per year, which will be given to Alliance Air as a grant.
Bhatia added that the initiative won’t just connect Delhi to Shimla, but will also improve travel between Shimla and Dharamshala within the state. Ultimately, it’s expected to give tourism a solid boost and make getting around Himachal much more convenient.
