Air India Express, a subsidiary of Air India and a key player in the Tata Group, is poised to enhance connectivity by launching daily flights between Kolkata and Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, this development, announced by an airline spokesperson this week, marks a significant milestone as Hindon Airport emerges as the second aviation hub in the National Capital Region. With this initiative, Hindon will elevate its profile with daily connections to Kolkata. Currently, only smaller airlines operate on short routes from Hindon. Air India Express is set to be the inaugural carrier to operate jet-engine flights from this airport, according to a company spokesperson quoted in multiple reports.
Services for the Air India flight between Kolkata and Hindon will commence on March 1. The flight from Kolkata to Hindon will operate daily, while the return flights from Hindon to Kolkata will run six days a week, excluding Saturdays. The Kolkata to Hindon flight will take off at 7:10 AM and arrive in Hindon at 9:30 AM. The return flight from Hindon will depart at 5:20 PM and reach Kolkata at 7:40 PM. In addition to Kolkata, the airline plans to establish connections from Goa and Bengaluru to Hindon, offering six daily flights from each city.
This expansion will allow Air India Express to serve passengers from two key airports in the National Capital Region (NCR), that is Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and the newly operational Hindon Airport. Hindon Airport is set to be a game-changer for travellers, providing a convenient and accessible option for those coming from Central and Eastern Delhi, Noida, and nearby neighborhoods such as Akshardham, Anand Vihar, Parliament Street, Central Secretariat, Chandni Chowk, Connaught Place, Indirapuram, Karol Bagh, Vaishali, and more.
The airline connects to 14 direct destinations from Kolkata including Hindon. Some of the key destinations are Bagdogra, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Chennai, Guwahati, and Hyderabad, the spokesperson is quoted to have said in various reports.
Air traffic control at Hindon is managed by the Indian Air Force. The Civil Enclave, developed and operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), caters to a blend of VIP and non-scheduled flights, ensuring that this facility plays a vital role in the region's connectivity landscape. The civil terminal at Hindon was initially inaugurated to bolster the government's Regional Connectivity Scheme. Unfortunately, it faced a lack of demand, leading to its closure for nearly eight months.