Surat to Bangkok Flight Approved by Air India Express

Surat – The Surat Diamond Burse Committee's efforts have led to a significant development as Air India Express has secured approval for a Surat-Bangkok flight. This decision follows meetings with Air India Express and Indigo Airlines and a successful presentation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Civil Aviation Minister.

Surat Airport Director S.C. Bhalase confirmed, "The slot requested by Air India Express for the Bangkok-Surat-Bangkok flight has been approved, and the relevant details have been sent to the DGCA."

This will be the third international route for Air India Express from Surat International Airport, following flights to Sharjah and Dubai. The new flight will connect Surat to Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport. The approved schedule includes operations on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with no flights on Tuesday and Thursday.

The flight will operate as follows: a domestic flight from Chennai will reach Surat, then continue as an international flight to Bangkok. The return flight from Bangkok to Surat will revert to a domestic flight to Chennai. The flight numbers will be IX 178 STV for Surat to Bangkok and IX 179 BKK for Bangkok to Surat. Departing from Surat at 12:00 noon, the flight will return at 10:00 pm.

This new route is expected to significantly benefit Surat's gems and jewelry industry, providing better connectivity to major international markets like Singapore, London, Brussels, and New York. Additionally, the electronics and tourism sectors will gain from improved links. The local tourism industry anticipates an influx of travelers from Mumbai and Delhi to Bangkok, especially during peak holiday seasons like summer and Diwali.