SpiceJet’s operations manager, Sanjiv Kapoor, told media representatives that the new route offered a direct and convenient means of travelling between the two hub airports for Indians, Thais and international travellers. He continued by saying Kolkata was central on SpiceJet’s network and from Bangkok other Southeast Asian cities were within easy range.
Mr Kapoor finished off by saying he expected the route to be attractive to corporate travellers and super-low fares to be a key enticement. SpiceJet is using 189-seat Boeing 737-800s on the route.
The flights operate at night with the outbound leg leaving Kolkata at 00:05 and the return from Suvarnabhumi at 05:10. The return flight lands back in Kolkata at 06:25 local time.
Before terminating services in March, SpiceJet flew to Bangkok four times a week from Pune and Bangalore. At the time, airline officials said the route was no longer economical as there had been a decline in reservations due to the worsening political crisis in Thailand.
The Thai army staged a coup d’état in May and put an end to the political chaos. The situation in Thailand has since stabilised and the country is now once again on the mainstream tourism trail.
Indian budget carrier restarts Bangkok flights
News in Asia
Indian low cost carrier SpiceJet has relaunched flight routes to Thailand six months after abruptly cancelling services. The airline began operating daily fights between the East Indian city of Kolkata and Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport late last week.