Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant Wednesday wrote to the Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu requesting his intervention for resumption of the Air India flight from Goa to Gatwick, London.
Sawant said the flight had been suspended following the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad last month. The crash on June 12 killed all but one of the 241 passengers aboard and 19 people on the ground.
In an email to the Union Minister Wednesday, Sawant said: “It is learnt that the operation of the Goa-Gatwick non-stop flight operated by Air India was suspended in June 2025, after the Ahmadabad plane crash. The resumption was likely to be started with effect from July 15”.
Sawant said the suspension of flight services has caused a lot of inconvenience to Goans travelling to and from London. “Many Goans travel on this route for employment purposes. I request you to kindly take up the issue with Air India and facilitate early operation of this flight,” he said.
Calangute MLA Michael Lobo had initially raised the issue in the state legislative assembly on Monday, expressing concern over the suspension of the flight. Lobo said the flight was used by Goans, who had been studying and working abroad, and sought intervention of the chief minister. Sawant said he will consult the Union Civil Aviation Ministry on the issue.
On Wednesday, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Venzy Viegas raised a point of order in the House and sought an update on the matter. In response, Sawant informed the House that he will write to the Ministry Wednesday via email.
