Kolkata: Air India and Thai Airways’ subsidiary airlines Thai Smile are set to resume services between Kolkata and Bangkok, a key international sector for business and tourism. Coming a day after Singapore Airlines announced daily services between Kolkata and Singapore from November 29, it marks the gradual return of international flights to Kolkata airport after a 20-month hiatus. Sources said IndiGo Airlines is also working on a daily flight schedule between Kolkata and the Thai capital.
Air India will start its services to Bangkok from December 8, initially operating two times-a-week on Wednesday and Sunday afternoons. Prior to the pandemic, the airline had three day-a-week services between Kolkata and Bangkok.
Flyers travelling to Thailand require to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to the travel date. On reaching Bangkok, tourists and visitors have to undergo an RT-PCR test and will have to check into one of the listed hotels till the arrival of the report. Thai tourism authorities have assured travel agents that the report will be available within 24 hours, necessitating a day’s hotel stay in Bangkok before being allowed to check into other hotels of choice or travel to other cities and seaside resorts.
Thai Smile has also introduced flights between Kolkata and Bangkok from January 1 on the ticket reservation platforms. Sources said the airline would initially operate a three day-a-week late-night schedule, arriving in the city on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and departing post midnight on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
The carrier could thereafter increase the frequency if loads are encouraging. In fact, Thai Airways officials have indicated that it could also return to Kolkata if the loads are good.
Sources in the travel trade industry said Thai Airways’ decision to withdraw its services and shut down its Kolkata office followed lack of business during the pandemic. “The airline operated cargo flights from other Indian cities. But there was not much from Kolkata,” a source said.
25/11/21 Subhro Niyogi/Times of India
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