As international passenger traffic is growing, more airlines have started showing interest to either start new services from Chennai or add frequency to existing services.
Air Seychelles on Sunday received clearance to start direct flight from Chennai to the island while Air Asia has decided to add four more flights in the Chennai-Kuala Lumpur sector from January 2011.
Sources said that Rak Airways, an airline based in Ras-al-Khaimah of the United Arab Emirates, is looking at starting services from Chennai.
Airport sources said that Air Seychelles was starting services to cash in on the potential to lure leisure travellers from Chennai to Seychelles and medical tourists from Seychelles to Chennai.
Seychelles also has a considerable number of people with ethnic links to Tamil Nadu. "Now, flyers between Chennai and Seychelles have to fly via Singapore which makes the travel expensive. Majority of the people who come from the island are those who come here for treatment at reputed hospitals in Tamil Nadu," said an airport official. Air Seychelles is planning to operate weekly service from Chennai.
Meanwhile, Air Asia, which currently operates a direct daily flight to Kuala Lumpur, will be increasing frequency by 11 flights per week from Chennai.
The airline has also offered an inclusive one-way fare of Rs 2,999 for purchase between November 16 and 21 for travel between January 21 and June 30. Kathleen Tan, regional head of commercial, Air Asia, said, "Chennai is a highly popular destination among Malaysians. Meanwhile, travellers from Chennai are increasingly using Kuala Lumpur as a connecting gateway to over 130 routes in Asian countries. Within the first few months of flying to Chennai, we have consistently enjoyed a strong loadfactor." The new flights will depart from Chennai at 6 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays.
An airport official said that international passenger traffic is on the rise. "There was close to 7% increase in passenger traffic last year. This will only encourage more airlines to start services from Chennai in the coming months," he added.
SpiceJet recently started services between Chennai and Colombo which is also serviced by Kingfisher and Jet Airways. "There is scope for additional services in this sector because a good number of Sri Lankan nationals visit India on pilgrimage. Similarly, Chennaiites visit the island nation for leisure," he said.
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