The soon-to-be-inaugurated airport at the popular Indian beach destination Goa already has a major taker. India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has announced more than 160 flights to and from the New Goa International Airport in Mopa, North Goa. The airline will connect the new airport with eight cities but will continue operating out of the old airport as well.
New flights
IndiGo has announced its largest-ever new station launch and will connect New Goa International Airport to 8 cities across India starting from January 5th, 2023.
Goa is a popular tourist destination on India’s western coast and receives multiple daily flights not just from India but internationally as well. IndiGo’s new flights out of the airport in Mopa will connect Delhi (DEL), Mumbai (BOM), Bengaluru (BLR), Chennai (MAA), Pune (PNQ), Jaipur (JAI), Ahmedabad (AMD), and Hyderabad (HYD).
Pieter Elbers, Chief Executive Officer of IndiGo, commented,
“We are very excited to announce our largest ever new station launch with new direct connections from the New Goa International Airport in Mopa, North Goa. It’s momentous for us at IndiGo to have such massive opening and it speaks of our ambition and ability to provide connectivity to our customers and the nation in the best possible way.”
About the airport
Goa’s second international airport at Mopa will be inaugurated by India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 11th. Operations will begin on January 5th, with IndiGo announcing these new flights. Goa is a tourist hotspot, particularly during the winter months, and the New Goa International Airport in Mopa will improve direct connectivity to North Goa.
The foundation stone for Goa’s latest airport was laid in 2016, and it has been constructed at a cost of ₹30 billion ($364 million). India’s aviation regulator, the DGCA, conducted the first test flight in September when an IndiGo A320 landed from Mumbai.
The airport was conceived in the 1990s but took all these years to become a reality. At present, the Dabolim airport handles all domestic and international flights to and from Goa and is operated by the Airports Authority of India as a civil enclave in an Indian Navy naval airbase.
IndiGo’s other plans
Besides its expansion into Goa, IndiGo is also busy exploring its codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines by offering several new connections to popular European destinations. After initially announcing connections to Switzerland, Portugal, France, and Austria, the carrier announced 32 new connecting flights to Europe out of Turkey.
Photo: Airbus
These flights will cater to travelers exploring Italy and UK, with one-stop connections to Milan, Manchester, Birmingham, Rome, and Venice via Istanbul. Vinay Malhotra, Head of Global Sales, IndiGo, is confident that these new routes will not only strengthen international connectivity but also enhance affordability for travel to Europe.
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