Air India Express expands West Bengal's winter schedule by 37 percent

In a statement, the Indian carrier said: "The airline has expanded its services from these cities, increasing the number of weekly flights from 168 last winter schedule to more than 230 this season, marking a 37% rise."

The carrier said the growth includes the introduction of new direct routes connecting Kolkata with Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair) and Indore, and Bagdogra with Chennai.

Commenting on the increase in flight operations from West Bengal, Dr. Ankur Garg, Chief Commercial Officer, Air India Express, said “As we expand our services with a 37% increase in flights from West Bengal, Air India Express reaffirms its commitment to connecting this vibrant state with the rest of India. Our new winter schedule, featuring over 230 weekly flights from Kolkata and Bagdogra, underscores our dedication to fostering trade and tourism in the region."

"We are thrilled to introduce a new Kolkata-Port Blair flight next month, just in time for the holiday season, offering our guests more travel options. Additionally, our two brand new aircraft, with liveries inspired by Jamdani and Kantha, invite guests to experience the rich cultural heritage of West Bengal. At Air India Express, we take pride in offering the warmth of Indian hospitality, creating meaningful connections and memorable experiences for all our travellers," Garg said.

Air India Express’ winter schedule across its expanding network has grown by 30% from last year, supported by the airline’s growing fleet, which now includes over 90 aircraft.

This winter, the airline will operate more than 400 daily flights compared to over 325 daily flights during the same period last year.

The enhanced schedule includes new routes such as Chennai – Goa, Chennai – Jaipur, Chennai – Pune, Delhi – Indore, Hyderabad – Gwalior, Kochi – Pune, and Visakhapatnam – Vijayawada. Additionally, the airline will commence operations to two new destinations, Jammu and Sri Vijaya Puram (Port Blair), starting December 1, 2024.

The airline has also increased the frequency of flights on Bengaluru – Hyderabad and Kochi - Hyderabad routes, along with international routes connecting Abu Dhabi, Ras al-Khaimah, and Muscat.