AIE to add Varanasi to its network

Air India Express (AIE) today said it will be adding Varanasi in its route network from next month with a direct flight service to Sharjah to cater to the flyers in and around the temple city.
AIE, which is the international budget arm of the national carrier Air India, would also roll out special discounted fares on the new route, the airline's chief executive officer K Shyam Sunder said in a release today.
The non-stop flight, to be introduced from August 17, would operate three times a week, using a 186-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft, the release said.
The Kochi-headquartered airline currently operates 175 weekly flights, connecting 11 domestic airports besides 12 destinations across the Middle East and South East Asia.

"The thrice-weekly flights will operate on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, fulfilling a long-standing need of passengers in and around Varanasi," Shyam Sundar said.
AIE will be offering introductory discounted fares for a limited period, he said, adding, "We are also be offering our passengers already booked on our Dubai-Lucknow and return sector, the facility to rebook on this flight at no extra cost if they so desire," he said.
This facility can be availed even with change of date till September 30, he added.