Air India Express, a low-cost Indian airline, is set to launch its flights from Kolkata and Chennai to Dhaka starting September 3.
The airline offers fares that are more than 25 per cent lower compared to other carriers operating on these routes.
Air India Express, a subsidiary of the Indian flag carrier Air India, will operate daily flights on the Dhaka-Kolkata-Dhaka and Dhaka-Chennai-Dhaka routes, according to a statement.
Promotional one-way fares will start at Tk 6,760 for Dhaka-Kolkata and Tk 10,423 for Dhaka-Chennai, with return fares beginning at Tk 11,764 and Tk 17,160 respectively.
"This fare is 25 to 30 per cent lower than those of other airlines currently operating on these routes," said Shohag Hossain, Managing Director of Rhythm Group (MAAS Travel & Tours Ltd), the local General Sales Agent (GSA) for the airline.
This competitive pricing is expected to benefit business travellers, tourists, and medical patients, facilitating increased passenger traffic between Bangladesh and India, he added.
Air India Express plans to expand its operations to other destinations from Dhaka and introduce flights from Chittagong and Sylhet airports, he mentioned.
The airline will use new Boeing 737 MAX aircraft for the Dhaka routes, featuring Business Class -- currently unavailable on any other budget carrier.
The airline offers leather seats with extra legroom, hot meal options, special equipment carry options, additional seating choices, and various other add-ons.
"This will be the first budget carrier offering the service of a legacy carrier," Hossain said.
Air India Express operates over 2,000 flights weekly to 45 destinations across India, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. With 59 aircraft in its fleet, the airline has 161 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 10 aircraft on order, adding an average of four new aircraft to its fleet each month.
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