Flights from Hindon to Kolkata, Goa and Bengaluru from March 1; check fares and other new destinations

Hindon Airport (Source: AAI)

With less than three months left for Noida International Airport to start commercial operations, the Hindon civil terminal in Ghaziabad will now see Air India Express launching flights from there to key destinations from March 1 and 2.

The airline is set to launch commercial flight services to Kolkata, Goa, and Bengaluru. While Hindon will serve as the connecting terminal between Kolkata and Goa, there will be a direct flight service to Bengaluru, officials said. According to Umesh Yadav, the director of Hindon civil terminal, Air India Express, a subsidiary of Tata-owned Air India, will operate daily flights on these routes.

According to the Times of India , each aircraft will be capable of accommodating over 180 passengers. Bookings are open for all destinations.

The airline's schedule includes a two-hour morning flight from Kolkata, arriving at Hindon at 9.30 am. This aircraft will then leave for Goa at 10.30 am and land there at 1.15 pm. The return journey from Goa will begin at 2 pm, reaching Hindon at 4.40 pm and making its final leg to Kolkata at 5.20 pm. The Bengaluru route will launch on March 2. It will see the flight departing from the Karnataka capital at 12.40 pm and reaching Hindon at 3.15 pm.

The return flight is scheduled for 3.45 pm and will arrive in Bengaluru at 6.35 pm.

This expansion of operations follows legal challenges posed by GMR-led Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). It had approached the Delhi High Court in October 2023, arguing that commercial operations from Hindon would impact IGI Airport's viability, especially when Noida airport was nearing launch. The court, however, dismissed DIAL's petition as 'withdrawn' on January 7, clearing the way for enhanced operations from the Hindon terminal.

Ghaziabad MP Atul Garg, who followed up on the matter with the Union Civil Aviation Ministry, pointed out that the government had suffered annual losses worth Rs 60 crore because Hindon airport was not utilised to its capacity. He said, "We are now working to establish routes to Prayagraj, Lucknow, and Ayodhya through discussions with various airlines."

The fare for a Hindon-Kolkata one-way journey would range from Rs 4,851 to Rs 5,743, while a ticket to Goa could cost between Rs 4,975 and Rs 6,235.

The fare for a Hindon-Bengaluru flight would be in the range of Rs 6,196 to Rs 19,626, depending on passenger traffic. Air India Express offers different fare categories—Xpress Lite, Xpress Value, Xpress Flex, and Xpress Biz—each with distinct features such as flexibility options, baggage allowance, and seat selection privileges.

Currently, Flybig Airlines and Star Air operate from Hindon under the Centre's UDAN scheme to Nanded, Adampur, Bhatinda, Kishanganj, and Ludhiana.

Air India Express will become the third carrier at the Hindon terminal, significantly expanding its route network.