India’s southern city of Hyderabad may soon blossom into a major hub for global carriers as some operators are all set to offer direct flights to the metropolis’ airport. A host of others airlines are also keen on starting city bound India operations.
India’s renowned IT city of Hyderabad is set to soon turn into a major aviation hub for international airlines, offering convenient connection to travellers seeking flights to South India.
City’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) is considered one of the best airports in the world and never fails to impress foreigners taking flights to the city with its high quality services and facilities.
News reports floating in the Indian media reveal that at least three new international carriers are ready to offer flights to the city.
Budget carriers Tiger Airways and Thai Smile (a unit of Thai Airways) are expected to start operating flights to India’s southern metropolis from the next month.
Kenya Airways (Kenya’s flag carrier) too is waiting in the wings to launch flight services to the city, reportedly from 2014.
Come September 28, Tiger Airways will become the second operator to offer direct flights between Singapore and Hyderabad after SilkAir. Airport data reveals that approximately 60,000 passengers from Hyderabad travel on this route each year.
Even passenger traffic on Thailand-Hyderabad sector is pretty high with many flyers travelling between these popular holiday destinations. Officials at the RGIA believe that Thai Smile will surely offer a boost to the traffic on the route. The airline, known to offer cheap flights options, is set to take off from the airport on September 16 as per online sources.
Kenya Airways also is keen on operating flights to India’s southern metropolis. “We are in the process of purchasing a dozen 7875 aircrafts. Once complete, we will expand our operations in six Indian airports and Hyderabad is definitely a potential choice,” Bennet Stephens, Area Manager, Kenya Airways for India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, was quoted as stating.
Reports indicate that a host of other international operators like Indonesia’s Garuda, Ethiopian Airlines, Jetstar Asia and Myanmar Airways could soon be offering flights to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in coming years.