 "SpiceJet to increase flights, connect Kolkata to Bangladesh cities")
Low-cost airline SpiceJet is increasing its flights from the city to many domestic destinations from October and also connect Kolkata to international destinations like Dhaka and Chittagong in Bangladesh from December, a company official said on Monday.
The airline, which achieved an average load-factor of 92 per cent in the last 14 months, is also exploring the possibility of launching flights from Kolkata to Yangon in Myanmar and Dubai and Sharjah in the Middle East.
"We will start a significant number of flights from Kolkata. The company is poised to grow in a meaningful way. One of the first places we chose to start growing from was Kolkata because Bengal is moving forward vary rapidly," said airline's founder-Chairman Ajay Singh.
"The airline will increase its network by 40 per cent from October, with flights from Kolkata to Silchar, Aizwal, Guwahati and Vizag. From December, the city will be connected to international destinations," he said.
He said the airline is "exploring some other opportunities from Kolkata".
"One of those connections will be Yangon. We will explore the route from Kolkata to the Middle East destinations like Dubai and Sharjah," Singh said.
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Appreciating the airline's decision to increase daily flights from the city, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said: "Kolkata is the gateway to the north-eastern states. The city is also a gateway to the Asean countries. You will get a ready market."
Referring to newly built Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport at Andal, she said: "The airport is not getting flights. You can nurture and review the opportunities to start flights from there as it could cater to Durgapur, Asansol, Birbhum Bankura and Purulia districts. It could cater to Jharkhand as well."
Banerjee urged the airline to start direct flights from Kolkata to European destinations.