Air India Express Continues Rapid Expansion: Introduces Phuk

Air India Express Continues Rapid Expansion: Introduces Phuket and Dibrugarh to Its Network

By Author

Published on January 2, 2025

Air India Express, continuing its ambitious expansion strategy, has announced the addition of two new destinations to its growing network: Phuket in Thailand and Dibrugarh in Assam. These launches underline the airline’s commitment to enhancing connectivity across international and domestic routes, offering travelers more choices and convenience.

Following its recent launch of direct flights to Bangkok, Air India Express will now connect Hyderabad and Phuket with direct flights starting January 31, 2025. Initially operating three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, the frequency will increase to six times a week from February 15, with daily flights except Tuesdays. To mark this milestone, the airline has introduced special inaugural fares, starting at ₹11,000 for Xpress Value fares and ₹10,500 for Xpress Lite fares. Additional discounts are available for loyalty members via the airline’s website and mobile apps.

Domestically, Air India Express has added Dibrugarh to its network, following the inclusion of Dimapur in November 2024. The new route will connect Dibrugarh to Guwahati, with onward connectivity to Delhi. This provides travelers from Assam with seamless access to the national capital and other destinations. Bookings for these routes are now open on the airline’s website and other major platforms.

Hyderabad-Phuket Schedule (Effective January 31, 2025)

Departure from Hyderabad: 06:40 AM | Arrival in Phuket: 11:55 AM (Monday*)
Departure from Phuket: 13:50 PM | Arrival in Hyderabad: 15:55 PM
Departure from Hyderabad: 12:20 PM | Arrival in Phuket: 17:35 PM (Wednesday & Friday)
Departure from Phuket: 18:20 PM | Arrival in Hyderabad: 20:25 PM
Departure from Hyderabad: 16:15 PM | Arrival in Phuket: 21:30 PM (Thursday*)
Departure from Phuket: 22:30 PM | Arrival in Hyderabad: 00:35 AM
Departure from Hyderabad: 11:50 AM | Arrival in Phuket: 17:05 PM (Saturday* & Sunday)
Departure from Phuket: 18:05 PM | Arrival in Hyderabad: 20:10 PM (*Starting February 15)

Delhi-Guwahati-Dibrugarh Schedule (Effective February 1, 2025)

Departure from Delhi: 09:10 AM | Arrival in Guwahati: 11:40 AM (Daily)
Departure from Guwahati: 12:15 PM | Arrival in Dibrugarh: 13:05 PM (Daily)
Departure from Dibrugarh: 13:45 PM | Arrival in Guwahati: 15:15 PM (Daily)
Departure from Guwahati: 15:50 PM | Arrival in Delhi: 19:00 PM (Daily)

Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, remarked, “We are delighted to announce Phuket and Dibrugarh as the newest additions to our growing network. Phuket’s dynamic appeal enhances our Southeast Asia presence, while Dibrugarh, our fifth destination in Northeast India, reinforces our commitment to fostering regional growth. This winter is a landmark for Air India Express, as we expand our network to over 50 destinations with a rapidly growing fleet exceeding 90 aircraft, poised to cross 100 in early 2025.”

Air India Express will offer convenient one-stop flights to Phuket from 16 cities, including Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Goa, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jeddah, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Pune, Riyadh, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam via Hyderabad. From Dibrugarh, travelers can connect to five major cities—Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, and Kolkata—with seamless onward travel options.

Renowned as the 'Tea City of India,' Dibrugarh is a key industrial and cultural hub in Upper Assam, thriving on tea, oil, and tourism. This addition highlights Air India Express’s mission to create meaningful connections and foster opportunities for trade, tourism, and exploration.

From Delhi, Air India Express connects 17 domestic and 4 international destinations with direct flights, and an additional 14 domestic and 7 international destinations with one-stop flights. From Guwahati, the airline operates 140 weekly flights, directly connecting 10 domestic destinations and providing one-stop connectivity to 20 domestic and 7 international destinations. Hyderabad serves as a significant hub, with 215 weekly flights connecting 20 domestic and 4 international destinations directly, and additional one-stop connections to 12 domestic and 10 international destinations.

With its expanding network, Air India Express continues to redefine travel, bridging distances and bringing people closer with its hallmark Indian warmth and personalized service.

Etihad and Vietnam Airlines Announce New Codeshare and Loyalty Partnership

By Manu Vardhan Kannan

Published on November 23, 2025

Etihad Airways and Vietnam Airlines have taken their partnership forward with the launch of a new codeshare agreement. This move builds on Etihad’s recently introduced Abu Dhabi–Hanoi service, creating smoother travel options between the UAE and Vietnam.

With this partnership, Etihad guests can now book onward journeys to major domestic destinations in Vietnam as well as popular cities across Asia, all on a single ticket. Travellers also benefit from one check-in and automatic baggage transfer, making Abu Dhabi an easy connection point to the Middle East, Europe, and Africa.

Arik De, Chief Revenue and Commercial Officer, Etihad Airways, said: "This partnership with Vietnam Airlines delivers significant value to our guests by unlocking access to some of Asia's most dynamic and popular destinations. Our new Abu Dhabi-Hanoi service has been warmly received, and this codeshare agreement transforms it into a gateway to Vietnam's most exciting cities. Combined with our frequent flyer partnership, which enables loyalty members of both airlines to earn and redeem miles across our combined global networks, this collaboration underscores our commitment to providing our guests with greater flexibility, broader reach, and superior travel experiences."

From Vietnam Airlines’ perspective, this collaboration builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed earlier. Nguyen Quang Trung, Director of Corporate Planning and Development, Vietnam Airlines, said: “Vietnam Airlines is pleased to advance our partnership with Etihad Airways through this new codeshare agreement, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2024. The collaboration offers seamless access to Etihad’s network across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa, while allowing more travellers to experience Vietnam Airlines’ signature warmth and hospitality. Together with our expanded frequent-flyer partnership, this agreement enhances convenience, broadens destination choices, and strengthens tourism and economic ties between Vietnam and the UAE.”

The rollout of the codeshare will take place in phases. As it expands, passengers of Vietnam Airlines will gain access to six destinations beyond Abu Dhabi, Athens, Addis Ababa, Bahrain, Muscat, Cairo, and Istanbul, opening up a wider network across the Middle East, Europe, and Africa through Etihad’s strong connectivity.

Etihad and Vietnam Airlines already have a frequent flyer partnership in place. Launched in July 2025, it allows Etihad Guest and Lotus Miles members to earn and redeem miles across both airlines’ networks. This loyalty integration adds more value to the newly announced codeshare, giving travellers broader options and smoother travel experiences.

IndiGo Launches Direct Flights Between Delhi and Manchester

By Hariharan U

Published on November 19, 2025

IndiGo, India’s preferred airline, has launched direct flights between Delhi and Manchester, starting 15th November 2025. This follows the airline’s successful first long-haul route connecting Mumbai to Manchester earlier this year.

The new 5x weekly service is operated on Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, leased from Norse Atlantic Airways. The plane offers a two-class cabin with 56 IndiGoStretch seats and 282 Economy Class seats, ensuring comfort for long-haul travellers.

Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), one of India’s top global gateways, now hosts IndiGo’s long-haul operations from the capital. On the UK side, Manchester Airport serves as a key hub, providing easy connections to Northern English cities including Leeds, Liverpool, and Newcastle.

By linking Delhi and Manchester, IndiGo aims to boost trade, tourism, and cultural exchange between India and the UK, making international travel faster and more convenient.

Flight Schedule (Effective 15 November 2025)

Delhi to Manchester

Flight No.: 6E 0033
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday
Departure: 04:05 (local time)
Arrival: 09:30 (local time)

Manchester to Delhi

Flight No.: 6E 0034
Days: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Departure: 11:15 (local time)
Arrival: 02:10 (+1, next day)

Note: All timings are in local time zones; +1 indicates arrival the next day.

About IndiGo
IndiGo is India’s preferred carrier and one of the fastest-growing airlines globally. Focused on affordability, punctuality, and hassle-free travel, the airline operates 2,300+ daily flights across 90+ domestic and 40+ international destinations. With a fleet of over 400 aircraft, IndiGo inducted 58 aircraft in 2024 and served 118 million passengers in FY25. It was also named ‘Best Airline in India and South Asia’ by Skytrax at the 2025 World Airline Awards.

For more details, visit www.goindigo.in or download the IndiGo mobile app.

Cox & Kings Unveils ‘Winter Tales of Europe’ as Indians Choose Offbeat Winter Destinations

By Hariharan U

Published on November 19, 2025

As Europe settles into its most scenic season, Indian travellers are increasingly looking beyond the usual winter hotspots. This year, Central and Eastern Europe have become strong favourites, leading Cox & Kings to introduce its new ‘Winter Tales of Europe’ collection. The series focuses on handpicked journeys through quieter, cultural, and lesser-explored regions, offering an intimate view of Europe away from the typical tourist trails.

Booking patterns show a clear trend: places like Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria are seeing higher demand among Indian travellers. These destinations offer a mix of heritage, calm winter beauty, and good value. From snow-covered old towns to peaceful mountains and festive markets without long queues, the region appeals to travellers seeking a more soulful winter holiday.

The new itineraries, ‘Eastern Wonders: A Winter Tale’, ‘Essence of Europe: Winter Journey’, and ‘Passionate Europe: A Winter Tale’, have been curated to highlight the slower and more immersive side of Europe. While winter does bring affordability with airfares and stays dropping up to 40% across Europe between November and March, Cox & Kings says the real focus is on meaningful experiences rather than seasonal discounts.

"There's a kind of quiet grandeur to Europe in winter especially in the regions that aren't yet overrun by tourism," says Karan Agarwal, Director, Cox & Kings. "Our Winter Tales itineraries bring that to life for travellers who want to go beyond the obvious and experience Europe as it truly feels to locals."

The Winter Tales series is open to a wide range of travellers: families looking for festive breaks, honeymooners, solo travellers joining group departures, senior explorers, and all-women groups under Cox & Kings’ Group Inclusive Tours (GIT) format. There is also flexibility for travellers who prefer independent travel, as the itineraries can be customised. Bookings for these journeys remain open until mid-March 2026.

About Cox & Kings
Cox & Kings is the world’s first and one of the most iconic travel houses, with a legacy of over 260 years. Established in 1758, it has been a pioneer in global travel across leisure, business, and specialised segments. Known for its deep expertise and curated experiences, the brand continues to guide generations of travellers with a blend of tradition, innovation, and customer-first hospitality.

Welcome to post your talent

A platform dedicated to showcase the skills and creativity of hospitality professionals. Share your articles, videos and other content related to the industry and get recognized for your unique perspective and expertise. By posting your content and gaining likes from your own community, we'll categorize your talents and expose them to the hospitality world. Join our community of passionate hospitality professionals and let your talent shine!.