SpiceJet announces flight connecting Kolkata, Kathmandu

This is the first international flight from West Bengal for the low cost airline

Low-cost carrier SpiceJet has announced the launch of a new flight connecting Kolkata and Nepal's capital Kathmandu. The service will operate thrice a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The flight, which will be SpiceJet's first international flight from West Bengal, will start operating from August 13, 2014.

The new flight will have a stopover connect at Bagdogra, in Darjeeling district of West Bengal.

SpiceJet has also announced an introductory promotional fare starting at Rs 99 plus statutory taxes and fees for the Bagdogra-to-Kathmandu leg. Bagdogra is located in a popular tourism belt of the country. Fares from Kolkata to Kathmandu enroute Bagdogra start at Rs 4,289 plus statutory taxes and fees. Introductory fares for the Kolkata-Bagdogra sector on this new flight start at Rs 1,875 plus statutory taxes and fees. The offer for Kathmandu will be valid on the first 1,000 seats sold on a first-come-first-served basis.

"This is our first international flight from the state of West Bengal. We believe this flight will not only facilitate tourism, but will also be important for the growth of trade between the two neighboring nations" said Kaneswaran Avili, chief commercial officer, SpiceJet Ltd. The airline will be deploying Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft on both these routes.

With this, the frequencies operated by SpiceJet on the Kokata-Bagdora sector will increase from the existing seven weekly frequencies to 10 weekly frequencies, said the company. The airline currently operates more than 340 daily flights to 48 destinations, including 41 Indian cities and seven international destinations.