Thai AirAsia debuts fourth Indian route

Thai AirAsia debuts fourth Indian route

Thai AirAsia (TAA) is expanding its footprint to India with the addition of a daily Kolkata service launching on Dec 16.

Kolkata will be the fourth Indian destination for Thailand's largest low-cost carrier (LCC), which is sharpening its focus on the subcontinent's huge travel market.

The launch marks the resumption of a route that TAA used to operate in 2010 as part of its India debut. It later dropped the Kolkata service because of weak performance.

This time around TAA expects higher demand from Kolkata, aiming for a load factor of 80-85%.

TAA will compete directly with two Indian LCCs operating on the Bangkok-Kolkata segment -- IndiGo and SpiceJet -- and indirectly with Thai Airways International, the only full-service carrier on the route.

TAA's relaunch of Kolkata flights indicates the airline's conviction about India's growth potential, especially in the economic hub of Kolkata.

TAA's three existing Indian routes fly from Bangkok to Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi.

Chennai and Bengaluru maintained an average load factor of 83% so far this year and its Kochi flight, launched in May this year, is said to be well received.

TAA has five flights weekly for Bangkok-Chennai and Bangkok-Bengaluru, and seven a week on Bangkok-Kochi.

The airline offers all-inclusive promotional fares starting at 1,890 baht one-way until Nov 2 for travel between Dec 16 and Oct 28 next year.

TAA's flight FD0120 will depart daily from Don Mueang airport at 12.05am and arrive in Kolkata at 1.10am, with the return flight leaving Kolkata at 2.10am and landing at Don Mueang at 6.40am.

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