Looks like IndiGo is planning to develop Kolkata as a hub. Last month IndiGo announced flights on the Buddhist circuit connecting Gaya with Kolkata and Varanasi. They even added an additional frequency from Kolkata to Varanasi and Patna. The first flight is scheduled for August 8, 2019, and all the above flights will be operated with an ATR 72 aircraft.
IndiGo A320neo
In addition, IndiGo added a new non-stop flight connecting Kolkata with Hong Kong. IndiGo is now adding Myanmar to its route network. Yangon will be IndiGo’s 18th international destination. IndiGo will operate daily nonstop flights from Kolkata to Yangon from September 20, 2019. The schedule for the new flight is,
6E7307 CCU1130 – 1430RGN 320 D
6E7308 RGN1530 – 1630CCU 320 D
Bookings are open for this new flight with one-way economy fares starting at INR 5999/-. According to William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer, IndiGo
In line with our international expansion strategy, we are excited to announce Yangon as our new international destination. We see significant traffic coming from Yangon to the Buddhist circuit thereby enhancing economic growth and tourism in India. This new route will strengthen the cultural relationship between the two countries and will boost trade, tourism and mobility.
If you look at it, while there is only a 3-hour halt at Kolkata if one wants to travel from Hong Kong to Gaya on IndiGo, the return journey involves a longer 6-hour halt. Also, it isn’t possible to connect to Yangon from Gaya unless you are taking a day’s halt in Kolkata.
IndiGo’s new flights out of Kolkata on Buddhist circuit
As of now, Air India operates 2x weekly flights between Kolkata and Yangon with an A319 and 1x weekly flights between Gaya and Yangon with an A320. Also, Myanmar Airways International (MAI) operates 2x weekly flights between Kolkata and Yangon with an A319.
IndiGo’s international expansion since April 2019
In addition, IndiGo has been approved by CAAC to add flights to Guangzhou from Kolkata and also there were talks about adding a flight to Kunming from Kolkata as well. Let’s see which other new international flights are added in the coming months from Kolkata.
I am quite intrigued with 6E’s logic on the route.
During Nov 2018, we chose AI’s for CCU-GAY-RGN and RGN-CCU route.
I was quite mystified to learn that we were the only passengers on the entire leg going from CCU-RGN. CCU-GAY and GAY-RGN legs had separate passengers, mainly Buddhist pilgrims.
Whereas RGN-CCU had 20-30% occupancy, mainly comprising of Indian government officials and Indian businessmen.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn in my 10 days of criss-crossing Myanmar, we barely encountered any Indian tourists and were warmly welcomed.
Despite all the skepticism with the route, I highly recommend a trip to Myanmar.