Air India Express, India’s first international budget airline, announced the launch of a direct international flight from Vijayawada to Sharjah.
The inaugural flight is scheduled to take off on October 31st, 2022 at 06.35 PM. The inaugural fares for the Vijayawada-Sharjah sector begin at INR 13,669, while those for the Sharjah-Vijayawada sector begin at AED 399.
Currently, Air India Express is the only airline that offers international services in and out of Vijayawada. In addition to Sharjah, Air India Express flies from Vijayawada to Muscat and Kuwait with a B737-800 NG aircraft, offering comfortable seats, a buy-on-board meal service besides pre-ordered hot meals, and in-seat power for charging mobile devices.
The availability of direct flights to the three locations will be beneficial for many residents of Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Vishakhapatnam, Parvathipuram, Alluri Sitarama Raju, Anakapalle, Kakinada, East Godavari, West Godavari, Konaseema, Eluru, Krishna, NTR, Guntur, Bapatla, Palnadu, Prakasham, Sri Potti and Sri Potti Ramulu who seek connectivity with the Middle Eastern nations.
Commenting on this, Aloke Singh, CEO, Air India Express, said, “We are happy to announce the debut international service of Air India Express between Vijayawada and Sharjah. After the pandemic’s two arduous years, the India-Gulf aviation sector has seen a smart recovery, bouncing back to almost pre-pandemic levels. For those travelling to UAE, particularly to Dubai and the Northern Emirates, the direct service to Sharjah will be a huge benefit, with a well-timed flight.”
| Flight Schedule (*All Timings Local) | ||||
| Sector | Flight Number | Departure | Arrival | Days of Operations |
| Vijayawada – Sharjah | IX 0975 | 18.35 | 21.05 | Mondays and Saturdays |
| Sharjah – Vijayawada | IX 0976 | 11.00 | 16.25 | Mondays and Saturdays |
| Vijayawada – Muscat | IX 0915 | 11.00 | 13.15 | Saturdays |
| Muscat – Vijayawada | IX 0444 | 11.05 | 16.10 | Tuesdays |
| Kuwait – Vijayawada | IX 0894 | 09.05 | 16.30 | Wednesdays |
About Air India Express:
Air India Express is India’s first international budget airline. It operates direct point-to-point services connecting primarily Tier 2/ Tier 3 cities in India with destinations in the Gulf/Middle East and South East Asia., with a fleet of 24 Boeing 737 – 800 NG aircraft in an all-economy configuration. Set up in 2005, it has emerged as one of the largest LCCs on the India-Gulf route, with a significant presence across the region.
With 19 Indian cities and 14 international destinations in its network, the airline operates about 600 flights a week. Its livery is unique in the airline industry, showcasing Indian heritage and culture in a contemporary and striking manner. Each aircraft tail is used as a canvas to represent some aspect of its ‘Indian-ness’ with art, architecture, and culture.
In January 2022, Air India Express, together with its parent company Air India, was successfully privatized, with ownership returning to the Tata group that had initially founded Air India.
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