Air India Express to launch Sharjah-Varanasi flight

The thrice-weekly non-stop flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Air India Express will introduce a direct flight linking Sharjah and Varanasi in India's Uttar Pradesh state from August 17.
"The thrice-weekly non-stop flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, fulfilling a long-standing need of passengers in and around Varanasi," K. Shyam Sundar, CEO, Air India Express (AIE), said in a press release.
Flight IX 184 on the Sharjah - Varanasi sector, will depart from Sharjah at 10:50am and arrive in Varanasi at 4pm local time.
On the return leg, IX 183 will depart from Varanasi at 5pm and arrive in Sharjah at 7.30pm.  Air India will be operating the sector with all- economy 186 - seater Boeing 737 aircraft.
Free offers
"Air India Express is happy to announce an introductory 35kg Free Baggage Allowance on Sharjah-Varanasi sector till September 15.We will also be offering introductory discounted fares for a limited period," said Sundar.
"In addition, we also offer our passengers already booked on our Dubai-Lucknow and return sector, the facility to rebook IX1841183 for travels, at no extra cost if so desired. This facility can be availed even with change of date till September 30," he added.
Currently AIE, the low cost subsidiary of India's national carrier Air India, operates 175 weekly flights linking 11 cities in India to 12 destinations in the Middle East and South East Asia. Varanasi would become the 12th station of Air India Express from August 17.
Modi connection
Another official said this will be the first international flight connecting the Middle East to Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's constituency.
"The Prime Minister's Office showed special interest in launching this flight and its maiden trip is timed around India's Independence Day on August 15 as Modi wants to dedicate it as his Independence Day gift to the people in and around Varanasi, thousands of whom live in the UAE," he told Khaleej Times.
Separately, the airline announced a change in timings for its passengers on the Sharjah-Thiruvananthapuram sector.
Starting August 17,  IX 536 will depart from Sharjah, at 8:20pm, and arrive at Thiruvananthapuram, at 2:05am, local time. The days of operation of IX 536 will continue to be on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, it added.
sajila@khaleejtimes.com

• India