Madhya Pradesh High Court puts Air India and Indigo on the spot, asking why there is a lack of direct flights to Jabalpur in a PIL seeking to boost air connectivity to the city.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has questioned Air India and Indigo Airlines on why they cannot increase flights to Jabalpur, despite the city’s economic and strategic importance. The court heard a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an organization that focuses on social activism, which claimed that Jabalpur’s Dumna airport has been neglected despite spending Rs 500 crores on its development. The PIL argued that new flight routes are being introduced in other cities like Indore, Bhopal, and Gwalior, but not Jabalpur. Indigo’s counsel argued that increasing flights to Jabalpur is not commercially viable, but the court questioned how Indigo can charge high fares if it is not operating more frequently. Air India’s counsel suggested that its big aircraft are unsuitable for Jabalpur and that a low-cost carrier like Air India Express or Akasa Air may be better suited to start operations. The court granted a last opportunity to Indigo and Air India to file their responses and impleaded Air India Express as a party in the plea. The matter is listed for hearing on January 16, 2025.