Three airlines announce their Diwali bonus

It's the perfect Diwali gift high-flying Amdavadis could have wished for. Airlines have introduced a number of new flights from the city this festival season, improving Ahmedabad's connectivity with Mumbai and other cities.

According to Airports Authority of India (AAI), which operates the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, eight new flights, including one international flight, are being launched from Ahmedabad this festive season.

"Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways and Indigo Airlines have launched or are about to launch more flights from Ahmedabad this Diwali," said a senior AAI official at Ahmedabad airport.

Beginning October 31, Kingfisher Airlines has launched two additional flights between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, to add to its existing flights. The enhanced connectivity will mean that flyers can benefit with more connecting flights to London, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong, Goa, Coimbatore, Bangalore and other destinations, according to airline officials.

"The new flights will offer easy connectivity to popular winter destinations. Besides, we will be able to offer more connectivity and multiple options to flyers," officials said.

Indigo Airlines, which operates one flight from Ahmedabad to Kolkata at present, is launching two more flights on the route this festival season. The second Ahmedabad-Kolkata flight will be launched on November 7, while the third will be launched on November 18. Indigo is also launching direct daily flights to Chennai and Jaipur from November 7.

The country's largest private airline, Jet Airways, has launched an Ahmedabad-New Delhi flight in view of enhanced movement of passengers during the winter season.

The Ahmedabad airport currently handles around 50 domestic flights and seven international flights per day. The number of domestic flights will go up to around 55 with the launch of the new flights.

Singapore Airlines, which operates two weekly flights from Ahmedabad, is also launching one more flight from the city from this month.

"We are launching a third flight between Ahmedabad and Singapore, on November 23. The flight is being launched in view of the expected increase in number of flyers during the winter holiday season, in December and January. However, we may continue the flight throughout the year if adequate traffic is observed," CW Foo, general manager (India), Singapore Airlines, said.

Singapore Airlines has also introduced a brand new A330 300 aircraft for flights from Ahmedabad, this week. The airline also announced a limited period return fare for the festive season.