SpiceJet looks to step up int'l services from Kochi

No-frills airline SpiceJet today said it plans to scale up its international operations from Kochi with some new flights to the Gulf region and is also looking to connect Maldivian capital Male to other domestic destinations via the coastal city.
The Gurgaon-based carrier is also evaluating prospects of flying to Omani capital Muscat from Kochi, it said in a release.
Senior SpiceJet executives held discussions with officials of Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) in this regard today, the airline said.
The airline is exploring the scope for further increasing its presence in the Gulf region with additional frequencies to Dubai as well as potential new flights connecting Kochi with some popular destinations like Muscat, the release added.

Kochi is a transit airport for SpiceJet, connecting various cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune and Kolkata, among others, to Male and Dubai.
"SpiceJet has seen excellent demand from Kochi for its flights on both domestic as well as the international routes, and it makes sense for us to start more operations from this port city of Kerala," said SpiceJet's Chief Operating Officer, Sanjiv Kapoor.
The Maldives is an easily accessible and increasingly popular destination that SpiceJet wants to provide more connection options to via Kochi from various points in India while the Gulf region has a lot of migrants from Kerala, he said.

"It is heartening to know that SpiceJet plans to increase its operations from Kochi. CIAL would like to extend all its support to the airline and ensure hassle-free and best-in- class infrastructure which will be helpful for the airline to start new flights from the state," CIAL managing director VJ Kurian said.