IndiGo has officially added its 68th destination in India. The low-cost giant kicked off flights from Bareilly on Thursday, a city in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. The new base was flagged off by India’s Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia yesterday as IndiGo doubles down on regional traffic.
New
As part of its plan to launch seven new regional bases by this summer, IndiGo has launched its latest one. Thursday, 12th August, saw the carrier launch operations from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, becoming the first commercial airline flying from there. The new routes are a part of the government UDAN-RCS (Regional Connectivity Scheme), which aims to connect hundreds of smaller cities to larger hubs and create thousands of new routes.
The first flight to Mumbai was flagged off by India’s new Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia. The ceremony was virtual due to COVID precautions and took place in New Delhi with IndiGo staff and government officials. Another ceremony took place at Bareilly Airport to inaugurate the new base.
IndiGo flight 6E5304 departed Bareilly Airport for Mumbai at 13:20 local time, arriving just under two hours later. However, this isn’t the route the airline has planned.
Two new
As the sole operator from Bareilly currently, IndiGo has added flights to the major hubs of Mumbai and Bangalore. However, routes to other nearby cities like New Delhi (a 4.5-hour drive currently), Hyderabad, and more could join if demand warrants it.
Flights to Bangalore will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays. 6E6521 will leave Bangalore at 08:40 and land at 11:30 local time. 6E6522 will leave Bareilly an hour later at 12:30 and land at 15:20 local time.
Meanwhile, the route to Mumbai will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and Sunday. The outbound flight, 6E828, will leave Mumbai at 09:25 and land at 11:30 local time. The return leg, 6E5304, leaves Bareilly at 12:30 and lands at 14:40 local time.
Announcing the new route, IndiGo Chief Strategy and Revenue Officer Sanjay Kumar said,
“The launch of our flight operations from Bareilly marks the progress on our plan to connect seven key regional destinations in the country this year…Enhanced connectivity will promote trade and commerce while offering support in realising the vision for Bareilly as it progresses towards a smart future. Bareilly, a sacred city located at the foothills of Nainital, Ranikhet and Kumaon region, will also attract domestic and international tourists via direct connectivity from Mumbai and Bangalore”.
Big steps
Bareilly is a strategic base for IndiGo since it could attract many travelers looking to visit the mountains in Uttrakhand (Nainital, Almora, and more). Moreover, the city is a hub for furniture, cotton, and sugar manufacturing, making business travel possible.
As the focus turns toward boosting regional routes, IndiGo is making the most of every opportunity. While the Bareilly base was delayed from its original date in April due to a COVID wave, the carrier remains committed to the routes.
What do you think about IndiGo’s new regional base? Let us know in the comments!
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