IndiGo has announced the addition of Agatti in Lakshadweep to its network. This week saw the launch of Fly91, a new regional airline based in Goa. The airline has announced plans to start flights to Lakshadweep as soon as in April. With IndiGo’s announcement, is the Blue Bird welcoming Fly91 to the skies in its classic style? Read on to find out more.
IndiGo to Agatti
Starting 31st March 2024, IndiGo will operate a daily flight between Bengaluru and Agatti with the following schedule:
- Bengaluru-Agatti
- Departure time: 10:25
- Arrival time: 13:00
- Flight time: 2 hours and 35 minutes
- Flight number: 6E7271
- Agatti-Bengaluru
- Departure time: 13:20
- Arrival time: 15:20
- Flight time: 2 hours
- Flight number: 6E7272
These flights will be operated by IndiGo’s ATR72-600 aircraft.
We are excited to announce Lakshadweep, India’s smallest Union Territory, as IndiGo’s 88th domestic destination. The natural landscapes, the sandy beaches and the abundance of flora & fauna are bound to attract people to explore the pristine beauty of the archipelago. The launch of these new flights would not only further strengthen Lakshadweep’s position on the country’s aviation map but also enhance travel & tourism. As India’s leading carrier, we remain
said Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo.
committed to delivering on our promise of providing affordable, on-time, courteous, and hassle-free travel experiences.
One of the most popular islands of Lakshadweep, Agatti Island is a 6 km long land terrain blessed with aquatic diversity. Home to the archipelago’s only airstrip, Agatti Island connects Lakshadweep to the rest of India. Known for its stunning beaches, considered by many to be amongst the best in the world, Agatti is popular amongst those looking for a bit of deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, sailing, skiing and even kayaking. The island also serves as an ideal base for exploring the uninhabited and serene isles of Bangaram, Pitti,
Thinnakara, Parali-I and Parali-II which lie in close proximity.
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Welcoming Fly91 in style?
Fly91 is a new regional airline based at Goa’s Manohar International Airport. It started operations this week with flights to Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Sindhudurg. The carrier’s plans include launching flights to Agatti and Jalgaon in the near future, as soon as April to the former.
IndiGo has had a classic style of welcoming new entrants in the Indian aviation industry. When Akasa Air began operations on Bengaluru-Kochi route – one of its very first routes – IndiGo quickly added frequencies on that route to take Akasa head on. The strategy there might be to keep a hold on the market and not let it slip to a new entrant.
In the case of Lakshadweep, IndiGo seems to be the doing the same thing. Currently, the union territory is served by Alliance Air with 9-weekly flights from Kochi. However, the demand for flights to the islands has been increasing gradually, specially after the Indian Prime Minister posted pictures of him enjoying a walk at one of the beaches in Lakshadweep.
Fly91 plans to start flights to Agatti from Goa, but it may not be the case that it will have daily flights from the very start. If IndiGo actually wants to grab a significant market share at Agatti, it may mount flights from Goa to Agatti, although that it unlikely to happen as it does not have any ATRs based in Goa. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. I can definitely see IndiGo and Fly91 coexisting in Agatti market with different destinations and different strategies, along with Alliance Air.
Meanwhile, IndiGo recently announced 11 new routes for the upcoming summer schedule.
Featured image by IndiGo
What do you think of IndiGo launching flights to Lakshadweep? Let me know in the comments section below.
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