Kochi: Air India Express launched its new Kochi-Thiruvananthapuram service on November 23, with flights departing Thiruvananthapuram at 7:15 am on Tuesdays and Saturdays, arriving in Kochi at 8:05 am. Return flights from Kochi to Thiruvananthapuram will operate on Mondays and Fridays, departing at 11:00 pm and arriving at 11:50 pm. This service complements the existing daily flights operated by IndiGo on the same route.
Additionally, Air India Express has unveiled plans to expand its operations from Kolkata and Bagdogra airports, increasing its weekly flight frequency to over 230 during this winter season, up from 168 last year. New routes will include direct flights from Kolkata to Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) and Indore, as well as from Bagdogra to Chennai.
Dr. Ankur Garg, the Chief Commercial Officer of Air India Express, highlighted that the airline's new winter schedule, which includes over 230 weekly flights from Kolkata and Bagdogra, reflects their commitment to boosting trade and tourism in the region. He also expressed excitement about the upcoming launch of the Kolkata-Port Blair flight next month, timed perfectly for the holiday season, which will offer more travel options for passengers, as per a CNBC TV18 report.
The airline’s winter schedule is set to grow by 30% compared to last year, with a fleet expansion exceeding 90 aircraft. Air India Express will operate over 400 daily flights this winter, a significant increase from the 325 flights last year. New routes include Chennai-Goa, Chennai-Jaipur, Chennai-Pune, Delhi-Indore, Hyderabad-Gwalior, Kochi-Pune, and Visakhapatnam-Vijayawada. Furthermore, starting December 1, 2024, the airline will introduce flights to Jammu and Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair).
Air India Express has also increased flight frequencies on several domestic and international routes, including Bengaluru-Hyderabad, Kochi-Hyderabad, and destinations like Abu Dhabi, Muscat, and Ras Al Khaimah.