SilkAir to Complement SIA’s Kolkata Service with Four Weekly Flights

SilkAir, the regional-international wing of Singapore Airlines, will begin four-times-weekly services to Kolkata in India on August 1.

Including Singapore Airlines’ three flights each week to the Indian city, the two airlines will operate a total of seven round-trip services per week.Singapore Airlines’ flights will be on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while SilkAir will operate its flights on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

“With the launch of SilkAir’s services to Kolkata, we will together be operating daily flights, providing our customers even more choices and convenience. The increase in flight frequency demonstrates our strong commitment to India and our dedication to further growing the market,” says Tan Chik Quee, Singapore Airlines’ senior vice president, marketing.

SilkAir is a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore Airlines and operates a fleet of Airbus A319s and A320s, in varying cabin configurations

Notes Marvin Tan, SilkAir’s chief executive: “Kolkata is a vibrant city that is rich in culture and history and known as the commercial capital of east India. It also serves as a base for many multi-national companies. SilkAir looks forward to serving both leisure and business travellers alike on the Singapore-Kolkata route from 1 August, complementing the services already offered by our parent company, Singapore Airlines. Additionally, we’re offering customers convenient onward connections to more than 90 cities in the joint Singapore Airlines – SilkAir network.”

The capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, Kolkata is the main business, commercial and financial hub of East India and is home to India’s oldest stock exchange company, the Calcutta Stock Exchange. Kolkata, formerly known as Calcutta, is a destination of significant historical interest and heritage, offering a rich collection of museums, libraries, historic hotels, city parks, statues and memorials. Unlike many cities in North India, much of the architecture found in Kolkata is reminiscent of the European, and particularly British, styles.

The flights are subject to governmental approvals, with schedules subject to slot availability.

SilkAir’s schedule between Singapore’s Changi International Airport (SIN) and Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU) will see flight MI488 departing SIN on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays at 9:00 p.m. and arriving at CCU at 10:35 p.m. local time (on Mondays) and 10:45 pm. (on the other three days).

In the other direction, SilkAir’s flight MI487 is timed to leave CCU on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays at 11:50 p.m. and to arrive at SIN at 6:35 a.m. the next day, local time.

On Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, Singapore Airlines’ complementary flight SQ516 is also timed to push back from the gate at SIN at 9:00 p.m. and is scheduled to land at CCU at 10:35 p.m. local time. In the other direction, fligth SQ517 is scheduled to depart CCU at 11:50 p.m. on the same three days and to touch down at SIN at 6:30 a.m. next day, local time.

SilkAir operates a fleet of 12 Airbus A320s and six A319s and has another six A320s and four A319s on order, along with options on a further nine A320s.