Air India Express continues to expand its network by launching new direct flights to Phuket from Hyderabad, strengthening its presence in Thailand and Southeast Asia. The new route will begin operations on 31 January 2025, with three weekly flights on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
From 15 February 2025, the airline will increase the frequency to six times a week, offering daily flights, except on Tuesdays. This expansion comes a week after the airline launched direct flights to Bangkok, further solidifying its commitment to connecting key destinations in the region.
Phuket, known for its stunning beaches, vibrant nightlife, and rich cultural heritage, is one of Thailand’s top tourist destinations. With the new direct flights, Air India Express will provide passengers from Hyderabad with convenient and seamless access to this popular holiday spot. The launch of the route is expected to boost tourism and business links between India and Thailand, and enhance the airline’s Southeast Asian network.
In addition to expanding its international network, Air India Express is also focusing on strengthening its domestic presence. The airline has announced the addition of Dibrugarh in Assam as its latest destination, following the addition of Dimapur in Nagaland in November 2024.
The airline will operate direct flights between Dibrugarh and Guwahati, with a continued service to Delhi, providing passengers with an easy connection to the national capital. This new station underscores the airline’s commitment to connecting smaller cities in Northeast India with major hubs across the country.
Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, commented on these developments, saying, “We are delighted to announce Phuket and Dibrugarh as the latest additions to our growing network. Phuket will further strengthen our presence in Southeast Asia, offering our passengers more choices for leisure and business travel.
Meanwhile, the introduction of Dibrugarh highlights our ongoing commitment to enhancing connectivity in Northeast India, a region with immense potential for trade, tourism, and economic growth. With our growing fleet of over 90 aircraft, we are expanding our footprint and meeting the evolving needs of our passengers.”
As part of this expansion, Air India Express is also offering convenient one-stop flight options to Phuket from 16 cities across its network, including Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Goa, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jeddah, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Pune, Riyadh, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam. These one-stop options allow passengers to easily connect to Phuket from various regions in India, making travel even more accessible and convenient.
Air India Express also remains committed to strengthening its domestic network. The airline will provide one-stop flights from Dibrugarh to five major Indian cities: Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, and Kolkata. Known as the ‘Tea City of India,’ Dibrugarh is an important industrial and cultural hub in Assam, famous for its tea gardens, oil industry, and tourism opportunities.
Starting June 16, 2024, Air India will operate non-stop flights between Delhi and Zurich, marking its debut in Switzerland. Using Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, the airline will fly on four days a week – Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This development expands Air India’s European footprint to seven cities, providing travellers with direct connectivity between Delhi and Zurich, with convenient onward connections to destinations across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Australia.
This new connectivity will not only benefit local travellers but also provide opportunities for greater trade and tourism between the Northeast and other parts of the country.
The airline’s rapid network expansion is being driven by its growing fleet, which now exceeds 90 aircraft, with plans to cross the 100-aircraft milestone in early 2025. Air India Express’s commitment to both domestic and international connectivity, along with its expansion into underserved markets, reflects the airline’s vision to cater to a broader spectrum of passengers and offer more meaningful connections, whether for leisure, business, or trade.
Bookings for the new flights to Phuket and Dibrugarh are now open on the airline’s website, airindiaexpress.com, as well as on major booking platforms.
