SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines (SIA), will launch direct air services between Singapore and Visakhapatnam, India, on October 28, 2012, subject to regulatory approvals.
SilkAir will be the first airline to provide a direct international air connection from Visakhapatnam, and it will increase the number of destinations in SilkAir’s route network to 42 in 12 countries.
Flights will operate three times weekly, departing on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, with next-day return flights, according to the following schedule:
|
Flight |
Days of Operation |
Departure* |
Arrival* |
|
MI448 |
Wed, Fri, Sun |
SIN 2025hrs |
VTZ 2205hrs |
|
MI447 |
Wed, Fri, Sun |
VTZ 2255hrs |
SIN 0555hrs + 1 |
*All times stated are in local time.
The new services will be operated with Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft, featuring both business and economy class cabins.
Strong demand
SilkAir Chief Executive Leslie Thng anticipates a strong demand for the new service and expects that the launch of direct flights will provide a further boost to the growth and development of business and tourism in both countries.
“This represents a significant milestone as SilkAir is the first carrier to offer international flights to and from Visakhapatnam. We are extremely delighted to add Visakhapatnam to our network and are confident that this direct service will further strengthen the strong economic ties between Singapore and India.”
Mr Thng added, “This new route will also give business travellers access to one of the fastest growing commercial cities in India, while introducing a great sightseeing destination for the leisure-oriented tourists.”
Popularly known as ‘Vizag,’ Visakhapatnam is the second largest city of Andhra Pradesh. It offers a multitude of cultural, historic and natural scenic sites such as the ‘Dolphin’s Nose,’ a prominent rock promontory, the world famous ‘Araku Valley’, a pleasant hill station renowned for its scenic gardens, and the greatly revered ‘Borra Caves,’ famous for its spectacular, million-year-old stalactite and stalagmite formations.
Visakhapatnam will be SilkAir’s eighth destination in India. Together with Singapore Airlines, the SIA Group will serve 11 cities in India.
Award winner
A full-service airline, SilkAir currently flies to 42 destinations across 12 countries and is the regional wing of Singapore Airlines.
Earlier this year, SilkAir was honoured with the ‘Changi Airline Award 2012’ by Changi Airport Group for being among the Top 10 Airlines by Passenger Carriage (third ranking).
In 2011, the airline was awarded the ‘Best Regional Airline 2011 ‘by CAPA, the Centre for Aviation. SilkAir was also ranked second in the ‘Best Regional Airline’ (Asia) category in the Skytrax World Airline Awards.
In 2010, the airline was inducted into ‘TTG Asia’s Travel Hall of Fame,’ following its 10th win as the ‘Best Regional Airline’ in the TTG Travel Awards 2009.
SilkAir was also ranked among the Top 10 Airlines for ‘Best Cabin Service Worldwide’ 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009 by Hong Kong-based online travel magazine ‘Smart Travel Asia.’
For more information on SilkAir, including the destinations and services, please visit www. silkair.com; www.facebook.com/SilkAir
Airfares start from New Zealand$1999 for travel effective October 28, 2012.
Visit www.singaporeair.com
Singapore Airlines is pleased to be the sponsor of the Business in Innovation category of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2012. The airline will also fly Gopalkrishna Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and former Governor of the Indian State of West Bengal to Auckland (by courtesy of BNZ Partners) to attend as a Guest of Honour the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2012 Ceremony on November 19, 2012 at the Sky City Convention Centre.
