Shimla, Dec 1 (IANS) State-owned carrier Air India has decided to restart its operations in Himachal Pradesh from Dec 3, officials said Monday.”We have decided to resume the lone flight between Delhi and Bhuntar (near Kullu) from Dec 3. The flight will operate twice a week - Wednesday and Friday,” Air India’s station manager at Bhuntar Satish Kumar Sharma told IANS.

Air India authorities suspended the Delhi-Kullu flight Nov 22, citing fall in passenger numbers.

The flight was launched March 19 this year when the new terminal building was inaugurated at Bhuntar by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

Himachal Pradesh’s Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) tourism cell in-charge Ajit Butail welcomed Air India’s decision.

“The restoration of flights would, of course, help attract high-end tourists to visit the popular tourist resort Manali,” Butail said.

Tourism is an important contributor to the state’s economic development. Last year, over 8.8 million tourists, including 339,000 foreigners, visited the state.

Kullu-Manali region is one of the most favourite tourist destinations in the country. Last year, around 100,000 foreign tourists visited that area.