Lucknow: Lucknow recorded a major aviation milestone on Tuesday as Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport handled its first commercial airline operation by a Boeing 777 wide-body aircraft.Saudia Airlines operated the service, bringing hundreds of passengers to the Uttar Pradesh capital in what officials described as an important step in expanding the airport’s operational capability.According to official sources, Saudia flight SV-892 landed at Lucknow at 3.42 am on Oct 27 with about 430 passengers booked. The aircraft later departed as flight SV-893 at 5.39 am with around 300 passengers booked.The operation is significant because Lucknow airport has largely been served by narrow-body aircraft, including the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737. The Boeing 777, a long-range twin-engine wide-body aircraft, can carry substantially more passengers and is typically deployed on high-demand international routes.Airport officials said Saudia Airlines has scheduled another Boeing 777 operation for Oct 29. The aircraft is expected to arrive at 12.50 am and depart at 2.30 am.The successful handling of a wide-body commercial flight is being seen as a boost for Lucknow’s growing role as an aviation hub in Uttar Pradesh, amid increasing domestic and international passenger traffic.The development has also renewed attention on calls for expanded long-haul connectivity from Lucknow, including earlier remarks by defence minister and Lucknow MP Rajnath Singh about pursuing direct flights linking Lucknow with Los Angeles.
