Bengaluru’s aviation landscape received a significant boost as Air India Express launched a new daily non-stop service to Bangkok. The connection, effective immediately, promises to improve leisure and business travel between southern India and Thailand, coinciding with the festive season when outbound tourism is expected to peak.
According to airline officials, the direct service seeks to provide affordable, convenient, and timely connectivity for travellers in Bengaluru and surrounding regions. With the growth of international outbound traffic from India, the introduction of new point-to-point routes is being viewed as a strategy to strengthen regional hubs while easing passenger pressure on metro airports. The schedule has been aligned to optimise passenger convenience. Flights depart from Bengaluru at 11 am IST, arriving in Bangkok at 4.45 pm IST. Return services leave Bangkok at 5.45 pm IST and land in Bengaluru at 8.30 pm IST, ensuring same-day turnaround for both business and leisure travellers. Industry experts believe this timing will cater to both weekday business itineraries and weekend holiday demand.
To attract passengers during the launch phase, the airline has introduced promotional fares, with round-trip tickets starting at ₹16,800. One-way tickets are priced at ₹9,000 for the Bengaluru–Bangkok sector and ₹8,850 for the return journey. Bookings are now available through the carrier’s digital platforms and major travel channels. Sector specialists highlight that India-Thailand connectivity has traditionally been dominated by larger carriers. The entry of new players into this route, particularly from Tier-I cities such as Bengaluru, marks a shift towards broader accessibility. Officials emphasised that improved direct connectivity will not only enhance tourism exchange but also stimulate economic and cultural linkages between the two nations.
Bengaluru, which has positioned itself as a leading aviation hub in southern India, continues to witness rising demand for international travel. Thailand, one of the most visited destinations for Indian tourists, is expected to gain further traction with the availability of daily services. Analysts suggest that the move will reduce dependence on connecting flights through Delhi, Mumbai, or Singapore, saving both time and cost for travellers. Industry observers further note that the growth of direct routes aligns with the wider government push to develop aviation infrastructure under the UDAN framework and boost regional airports. This development also mirrors global aviation trends where short-haul direct flights are being expanded to meet changing passenger preferences for quicker, seamless travel.
The launch underscores Air India Express’s strategy to strengthen its short-haul international portfolio and tap into the booming leisure travel segment. Officials affirmed that the service is part of a larger expansion roadmap that includes improved connectivity across South Asia and Southeast Asia. While the current focus remains on increasing affordability and accessibility, experts caution that airlines must simultaneously work on sustainability, including optimised fleet management and lower-emission operations, to ensure that expanded connectivity does not compromise climate commitments.
With this move, Bengaluru is poised to strengthen its role as a gateway to Southeast Asia, connecting India’s southern travellers directly to Bangkok’s tourism and trade corridors.
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Air India Express Launches Daily Direct Flights Connecting Bengaluru And Bangkok Route
