Dragonair (KA) has confirmed a fourth weekly service between Hong Kong and Kolkata starting November 2. Further to the carrier’s announcement earlier this year (see story here), an updated flight schedule has been released. Kolkata is a new destination for KA and its second destination in India, following Bengaluru.
Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal state. Boasting a population of about 15.7 million, the city has long been known for its literary and artistic heritage. But in recent years, the information technology and real estate industries have also started to develop. More international hotel brands have started to come in, including Swissotel Kolkata (2010), while the Westin Kolkata Rajarhat is due in 2013.
KA's new four weekly flights, utilising an Airbus A320, take off from Hong Kong at 2050 every Wedesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and land at Kolkata’s Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at 2315. The return leg operates on Monday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday, departing at 0010 and arriving in Hong Kong at 0600.
KA sees market potential on the new route with Kolkata evolving into an important commercial and financial hub, said an airline spokesperson.
With the new route, KA provides travellers with more choices and greater convenience travelling between Hong Kong and the eastern part of the subcontinent. Travellers can connect through the Hong Kong hub to and from the airline’s Mainland China network, as well as destinations in North America and Australia through connections on the network of sister airline Cathay Pacific.
“The launch of a new service to Kolkata marks an important step in building Dragonair’s presence in the Indian market, following the launch of flights to Bengaluru in 2008. India is one of the major economies in Asia, and the country has an increasing influence on the world stage,” said Patrick Yeung, chief executive officer of KA.
Cathay Pacific (CX), sister airline of KA, has not operated the route to Kolkata for over 40 years and CX has no plans to resume service to the city at this point, said a spokesperson for the carrier.
For more information, visit www.dragonair.com.
Michelle Fong
