Tag Archives: Guwahati

SpiceJet announces plan to launch seaplane operations across 20 routes in 2025

SpiceJet has announced plans to launch seaplane operations in 2025, connecting some of India’s most remote and picturesque locations. The announcement was made today by SpiceJet’s Chairman and Managing Director, Ajay Singh, on the occasion of a demonstration seaplane flight from Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada to Srisailam Dam, attended by Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister of Civil Aviation, K. Rammohan Naidu.

SpiceJet has partnered in seaplane trials across multiple locations, providing crucial engineering, technical, and logistical support to De Havilland.

With rights to operate seaplane services on 20 routes, including Lakshadweep, Hyderabad, Guwahati, and Shillong, the airline is preparing to roll out connectivity across key routes as the infrastructure becomes ready.

Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, said, “Seaplanes have the potential to transform India’s regional connectivity, opening up access to some of the most stunning, yet remote, parts of the country. SpiceJet has always dared to dream big and with the support of visionary leaders like Chief Minister Sh. Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister Sh. K. Rammohan Naidu, we are taking concrete steps to bring seaplane operations to life in India once again. We are excited to help drive this initiative forward, partnering closely with the government and civil aviation authorities to ensure these services become a reality and a success.”

Avani Singh, CEO, Spice Shuttle, said, “Our journey in regional connectivity has been a purposeful one, rooted in the belief that everyone, no matter how remote, deserves access to affordable and efficient air travel, and today, we are excited to be at the forefront of seaplane operations in India.”

”Seaplanes can be a true game-changer for a country like ours, where diverse geographies—coastlines, islands, and riverine regions—often present infrastructure challenges. With seaplanes, we can transcend these barriers and bring the joy and benefits of connectivity to coastal areas, islands, and remote inland destinations,” she said.

Avani, who previously led SpiceHealth, is now spearheading SpiceJet’s seaplane project following her MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She is also an alumna of Stanford University.

DS Group expands in Assam with Radisson Blu

 

The DS Group, a diversified conglomerate with ventures in FMCG, real estate, and hospitality, is strengthening its presence in Northeast India. One of its key projects is the Radisson Blu Hotel Guwahati, which the group owns and operates under a franchise agreement with Radisson Hotel Group. The hotel has become a significant player in the region’s growing hospitality industry.

Nathan Andrews, a senior DS Group executive, announced a major expansion at the Radisson Blu Hotel, increasing the hotel’s capacity to 275 rooms with the addition of 85 new rooms. The expansion also includes a 10,000 square-foot pillar-less banquet hall to cater to large-scale events. Andrews highlighted the group’s confidence in the growth potential of Assam’s real estate and hospitality sectors.

The DS Group’s strategy reflects a broader focus on post-pandemic recovery in the hospitality industry, which Andrews noted has been strong. He emphasised the sector’s resilience, driven by market optimism and renewed travel demand. According to Andrews, the interconnected growth of tourism and aviation in the Northeast has fueled the hospitality industry’s resurgence, especially in scenic areas like Assam.

Looking ahead, the DS Group plans to explore further expansion opportunities across the Northeast. Andrews also urged the government to align GST rates for hotels with standalone restaurants and grant industry status to hotels, which could provide financial incentives and further support the sector’s growth.

Air India Express launches daily flights from Agartala to Guwahati & Kolkata

Air India Express has expanded its rapidly growing network by adding Agartala, the capital city of Tripura, as its 32nd domestic destination.

The airline launched daily direct flights from Agartala to Guwahati and Kolkata on Sunday, offering convenient one-stop connections to eight domestic destinations, including Delhi.

Additionally, Air India Express inaugurated new routes from Hyderabad to Guwahati, Bengaluru to Vijayawada, and Bengaluru to Indore, all commencing on the same day.

Agartala:

Air India Express operates 14 weekly flights from Agartala, providing daily direct services to Guwahati and Kolkata. The airline also offers convenient one-stop connections to Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, and Kochi.

Guwahati:

Air India Express operates 77 weekly flights from Guwahati, offering direct connections to eight destinations: Agartala, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, and Kolkata. The airline also provides one-stop connectivity to 20 domestic destinations, including Ayodhya, Goa, and Kozhikode, and to four international destinations: Bahrain, Dammam, Singapore, and Sharjah.

Kolkata:

Air India Express operates 124 weekly flights from Kolkata, connecting directly to 12 destinations, including Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Kochi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Bagdogra, Jaipur, Chennai, Surat, and Varanasi. The airline also offers connectivity to 22 one-stop destinations, such as Abu Dhabi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Doha, Dubai, Lucknow, Kuwait, Thiruvananthapuram, and Gwalior.

Hyderabad:

Air India Express operates 187 weekly flights from Hyderabad, connecting directly to 18 domestic and three international destinations, including Amritsar, Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Dammam, Goa, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jeddah, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Riyadh, Srinagar, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam. The airline also provides one-stop connections to 10 domestic destinations, such as Agartala, Ayodhya, and Gwalior, and nine international destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Kuwait, Muscat, Salalah, Sharjah, and Singapore.

Bengaluru:

Air India Express operates 376 weekly flights from Bengaluru, connecting directly to 24 domestic destinations, such as Ayodhya, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Gwalior, Hyderabad, Indore, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Ranchi, Surat, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, and to Abu Dhabi internationally. Additionally, the airline provides one-stop connectivity to six domestic destinations, such as Agartala, Imphal, and Srinagar, and 12 international destinations, including Al Ain, Bahrain, Dammam, Doha, Dubai, Jeddah, Kuwait, Muscat, Riyadh, Salalah, Sharjah, and Singapore.

Indore:

Air India Express operates flights from Indore, offering direct connections to three destinations: Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Sharjah. The airline also provides one-stop connectivity to 18 destinations, such as Ayodhya, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Goa, Gwalior, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mangaluru, Mumbai, Pune, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam, and to Jeddah internationally.

Vijayawada:

Air India Express operates 16 weekly departures from Vijayawada, offering direct connections to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Sharjah in United Arab Emirates. The airline also provides convenient one-stop itineraries to 18 domestic destinations, including Ayodhya, Bagdogra, Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Gwalior, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Kozhikode, Lucknow, Mumbai, Pune, Srinagar, Thiruvananthapuram, Varanasi, and Visakhapatnam, as well as one international destination, Jeddah.

 

 

Flight Schedule from 1 September, 2024
From/ To Agartala
Departure Arrival Departure Time Arrival Time Frequency
Guwahati Agartala 10:15 11:20 Daily
Agartala Guwahati 11:50 12:45 Daily
Kolkata Agartala 07:30 08:30 Daily
Agartala Kolkata 09:00 10:05 Daily
Via Guwahati (No Aircraft Change)
Delhi Agartala 07:20 11:20 Daily
Agartala Delhi 11:50 16:05 Daily
From/ To Hyderabad
Hyderabad Guwahati 07:15 09:50 Daily
Guwahati Hyderabad 13:15 15:30 Daily
From/ To Bengaluru
Bengaluru Indore 11:10 13:00 Daily
Indore Bengaluru 13:30 15:30 Daily
Bengaluru Vijayawada 16:05 17:40 Daily
Vijayawada Bengaluru 18:10 19:50 Daily

 

 

 

AI Express starts 6 daily flights from Chennai, Kolkata & Guwahati

Air India Express has launched six new daily direct flights in a single day, further strengthening its domestic network.

The new flights operate on the Chennai-Bhubaneswar, Chennai-Bagdogra, Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata-Varanasi, Kolkata-Guwahati, and Guwahati-Jaipur sectors.

Five of these routes are new to the airline’s growing network. The newly introduced Guwahati-Jaipur flight is an exclusive route, served by Air India Express.

To meet the increasing demand on the Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram route, previously served with two weekly flights, the airline has now introduced an additional daily service, bringing the total to nine flights a week.

 

Scheduled from 12 August 2024
Departure Arrival Departure Time Arrival Time Frequency
Chennai Bhubaneswar 07:45 09:30 Daily
Bhubaneswar Chennai 10:00 12:00 Daily
Chennai Bagdogra 12:35 15:10 Daily
Bagdogra Chennai 15:40 18:15 Daily
Chennai Thiruvananthapuram 18:50 20:20 Daily
Thiruvananthapuram Chennai 20:50 22:20 Daily
Kolkata Varanasi 07:40 09:05 Daily
Varanasi Kolkata 09:40 11:10 Daily
Kolkata Guwahati 12:10 13:25 Daily
Guwahati Kolkata 13:55 16:35 Daily

Air India Express Operations:
From/To Chennai: Air India Express now connects Chennai directly to 10 destinations, including Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata, and Thiruvananthapuram domestically, and Dammam, Kuwait, and Singapore internationally. Additionally, the airline offers convenient one-stop connectivity to 24 destinations, both domestic and international.

From/To Bhubaneswar: With this expansion, Air India Express now provides direct connectivity from Bhubaneswar to seven domestic destinations, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Pune. The airline also offers 26 one-stop itineraries to a variety of other destinations.

From/To Bagdogra: Air India Express connects Bagdogra directly to five domestic destinations, including Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Kolkata, and offers access to 26 one-stop destinations, both domestic and international.

From/To Kolkata: Kolkata is the third largest station for Air India Express, operating 124 weekly flights to 34 destinations, including 12 direct domestic destinations and various one-stop destinations.

From/To Thiruvananthapuram: Air India Express offers 12 direct flights connecting Thiruvananthapuram to domestic and international destinations and connects the city to 23 one-stop destinations.

From/To Guwahati: Air India Express connects Guwahati with eight domestic destinations and 23 one-stop destinations, including both domestic and international.

From/To Varanasi: With 42 weekly departures, Air India Express connects Varanasi directly to three domestic destinations and one international destination. The airline also provides convenient one-stop itineraries to several other domestic and international destinations.

From/To Jaipur: Air India Express offers nine direct flights connecting Jaipur to domestic destinations and one international destination. The airline also connects Jaipur to 24 one-stop destinations, both domestic and international.

 

‘AAI receives INR 2,032cr of passenger fee via 6 leased airports’

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received passenger fees totalling about INR 2,032 crore till June this year from the private partners operating six airports that were leased out in 2019.

The airports at Lucknow, Ahmedabad, Mangaluru, Jaipur, Guwahati and Thiruvananthapuram have been leased out to Adani group under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) since 2019.

“Private partners of these airports have paid approximately INR 2,032 crore to AAI as Per Passenger Fee (PPF) till June 2024.

“AAI has also received an amount of approximately INR 2,758 crore from the private partners of these six airports in the form of upfront fee towards the capital expenditure incurred by AAI at these airports,” Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol told Lok Sabha on Thursday.

According to him, these airports were leased out for better operations, management and development for 50 years.
The Minister also said in a written reply that as per the National Monetisation Pipeline (NMP), 25 AAI airports have been earmarked for leasing over the years 2022 to 2025. “However, this is an indicative list and finalisation is subject to further assessment”.

Currently, there are 157 operational airports in the country with the capacity to handle more than 530 million passengers per annum.

In a separate written reply, Mohol said the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued 16,092 aircraft maintenance engineer licenses during the period from 2019 till August 1 this year.

There are 57 Aircraft Maintenance Engineering (AME) training institutes approved to impart maintenance training. (Source: PTI)

AI Express to connect Agartala with Guwahati, Delhi & Kolkata from Sept 1

Air India Express has expanded its route network to Tripura, introducing daily direct flights connecting the city to Guwahati/Delhi and Kolkata.

The operations on these routes will commence on September 1, 2024, and the flights are now open for booking on the airline’s  mobile app and website, and other major booking channels.

Commenting on the launch, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “We are delighted to announce Agartala, Tripura, as our 46th destination, further expanding our footprint in the North-East after Guwahati, Bagdogra, and Imphal, enhancing our national network. This strategic addition underscores our commitment to connecting tier 2 and 3 cities of India and promoting economic growth, trade, and tourism across the country. Aligned with our core value proposition of ‘Fly As You Are,’ we remain steadfast in our commitment to delivering an unparalleled guest experience distinguished by our signature Indian hospitality.”

With this expansion, Air India Express now connects Agartala to two direct destinations and eight one-stop destinations, including Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Kochi, Delhi, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur and Chennai, via 14 weekly departures.

Air India Express operates 77 weekly flights from Guwahati, connecting it to eight direct destinations: Agartala, Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jaipur, and Kolkata. Additionally, the airline offers one-stop itineraries from Guwahati to 20 domestic destinations, including Ayodhya, Goa, Gwalior, Kozhikode, and Pune, among others, and to four international destinations: Bahrain, Dammam, Singapore, and Sharjah.

From Kolkata, Air India Express has 124 weekly departures, connecting 12 direct destinations like Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Kochi, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Bagdogra, Jaipur, Chennai, Surat, and Varanasi. The airlines also connect the City of Joy to 22 one-stop destinations, including Abu Dhabi, Kozhikode, Kannur, Doha, Dubai, Lucknow, Kuwait, Thiruvananthapuram, Gwalior, among others.

 

Scheduled from September 1, 2024
Departure Arrival Departure Time Arrival Time Frequency
Agartala Guwahati 11:50 12:45 Daily
Guwahati Agartala 10:20 11:20 Daily
Agartala Kolkata 09:20 10:25 Daily
Kolkata Agartala 07:50 08:50 Daily
Agartala – Delhi via Guwahati
Agartala Delhi 11:50 16:05 Daily
Delhi Agartala 07:20 11:20 Daily