SpiceJet to launch Bagdogra-Calcutta morning flight

TT, Siliguri: SpiceJet will launch morning flights between Calcutta and Bagdogra from October 4 - a long-standing demand of residents of north Bengal to enable them to reach the state capital by 10am.

The airline made the announcement on Monday and published details of the flight on its official website with tickets available for booking.

As per the schedule, the new flight will leave Calcutta at 6.05am and land at Bagdogra at 7.20am. The plane is set to return at 7.40am and land in Calcutta at 8.55am.

The service will be introduced from October 4.

SpiceJet has already flights between Bagdogra and a number of destinations in the country

"There was a longstanding demand from people of north Bengal to have an early morning flight to Calcutta as most planes from Bagdogra to the state capital are operated in the afternoon hours. On many occasions, people have to reschedule appointments in the morning or have to reach Calcutta a day before," said Jayanta Majumdar, who runs a cab service in Siliguri.

In Bagdogra, the first flight departs at 9.10am for Bangalore, while the last one leaves at 6.45pm for Delhi.

So far, the first flight from Calcutta reaches Bagdogra at 10.20am and returns at 10.45am to land at Dumdum airport at 11.55am.

Debashis Maitra, the president of the Eastern Himalaya Travel and Tour Operators' Association, said the new flight would help tourists.

"Many tourists who fly into the region enquire about early morning flights so that they can take corresponding connection flights early from Calcutta and other airports. We did not have this option so far, except the flight that leaves for Bangalore. Also, tourists availing themselves of the morning flight can now reach their destinations, say Darjeeling, Gangtok or Dooars, latest by 12pm and can enjoy the second half of the day. In a similar manner, we also need an early flight that connects Delhi with Bagdogra," said Maitra.

Officials of the Airports Authority of India at Bagdogra said it would help increase the passenger inflow at Bagdogra.

"In Bagdogra, there is always an option to operate flights in early morning hours and in the late evening hours. Airline companies have time and again been intimated about the options which they can explore. We are yet to get a formal confirmation," said an official.