SpiceJet, India's second largest low-cost carrier (LCC), is returning to Bangkok later this month after a six-month hiatus.
But this time around, it will connect the Thai capital with Kolkata, the economic centre of east India, as it puts its two previous routes — Bangkok-Pune and Bangkok-Bangalore — on the back burner.
SpiceJet suspended those two routes, which operated four flights per week, in mid-March due to the political unrest and shortage of aircraft capacity. The routes marked SpiceJet's first descent to Thailand, in late October last year.
The airline will offer a daily Bangkok-Kolkata service on Sept 25 using mostly Boeing 737-800 Next Generation, the single-aisle jetliner configured with 189 seats.
Chief operating officer Sanjiv Kapoor said the airline believes there is huge opportunity in the Bangkok-Kolkata market. The flight will also connect its customers flying from Bangkok to and from other Indian destinations.
The launch is timed to coincide with the start of the Indian festive season, he added.
Tya Vidhayasai, manager of Q.E. Tour Co, SpiceJet's general sales agent in Thailand, said the traffic potential on Bangkok-Kolkata was much stronger than the previous two routes.
Thailand's political environment is now more conducive, attracting Indians back to the country and SpiceJet has more aircraft capacity available.
Mr Tya estimates 70% passengers on the route will be from Kolkata and 30% from Thailand.
The two-and-a-half hour flight departs Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport at 05.10 to land in Kolkata at 06.25, with the return flight leaving at 00.05 and arriving at 04.10.
SpiceJet will pitch against IndiGo, the only LCC operating on the Bangkok-Kolkata route.
SpiceJet is offering an all-inclusive promotional one-way fare of 1,499 baht on the Bangkok-Kolkata route for a limited period.