Kochi: The national budget carrier Air India Express (AIE) is set to convert the current three days a week connectivity from Kochi to Singapore via Madurai into a daily one via Bangalore, which also will be an additional destination for the carrier. The flights via Bangalore are set to take off on October 29, according to an official of the airline.
At present, Air India Express operates Kochi-Singapore service via Madurai thrice a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The flight IX-484 departs from Kochi at 10:40 a.m. (local time) and reaches Singapore at 7:05 p.m. (local time). On the return direction, flight IX-483 will depart Singapore at 08:10 p.m. (local time) and arrives in Kochi at 11:45 p.m. (local time).
The Kochi-Singapore service via Bangalore of Air India Express begins on October 29 on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Flight IX-486 will depart Kochi at 10:30 a.m. and will reach Singapore at 07:55 p.m.. On the return direction, the flight IX 485 will depart Singapore at 09:10 p.m. and arrives Kochi at 01:30 a.m.
The AIE has also added one more aircraft on lease to its fleet taking the total number of flights in its fleet from 23 to 24. The new aircraft is set to be deployed from newly opened Kannur International Airport and AIE is set to operate the first international service from the airport. This would be to a Gulf destination and the official said the details of the schedule are being worked out. To mark the beginning, Air India Express has already operated its test flight at Kannur International Airport on September 20.
Responding to reports in a section of the press, the official said that both Air India and AIE have not issued any orders increasing charges for carrying bodies of the deceased from abroad. “We are the only airlines undertaking this service and the cargo department of AI is in charge of it for both AI and AIE and it is headquartered in Delhi. The office in Kochi has not received any intimation of increasing the charges. There may be variance in rates destination to destination,” said an official.
