There are numerous NRIs in and around Surat, India that would love to have international fights connected to Surat or connecting flights from Mumbai or Ahmedabad to Surat. These flights would be very popular with thousands of South Gujarat residents now living abroad and with those folks travelling for business and pleasure.

Imagine landing in Mumbai or Ahmedabad in the middle of the night and then waiting several hours to catch a 4 hour train ride to get to Surat or catching a cab / car that drives you 4-5 hours to Surat and surrounding area. Instead, if there were international flights landing in Surat or connecting flights that connected Mumbai or Ahmedabad with Surat, it would reduce the amount of hassle by a large amount and make it very attractive to the large population of international travellers travelling to and from Surat and its surrounding area.

Currently, such a traveller adds about 8-10 hours to their overall journey. If there were direct flights or connecting flights, this would cut down to 3 or 4 hours. Additionally, it removes the hassle of getting out of the airport and going to the train station or catching a cab. Travelling with a family of four, quadruples the amount of hassles with all the change and baggage involved with the current situation.

I am creating this petition to catch the attention of the airline industry so they realise that there is a real need and a business opportunity here and can add flights to Surat. Either international or domestic connections would be very welcome. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area where there are many such travellers and I am positive this can reach out to thousands more.

While living in the San Francisco Bay Area, I am also a member of two groups in Surat, the WWWAS (We Want a Working Airport at Surat) and SIA (Surat International Airport). Both the groups are on facebook who's members have fully supported this campaign from day 1. Both the groups have the same # 1 goal in mind, better air connectivity. And this campaign helps towards that goal.