Singapore Airlines To Start Hyderabad Service

ET&T Staff - Mumbai

Singapore Airlines is expected to launch operations from Hyderabad on October 30, replacing the services of its subsidiary SilkAir. This makes Hyderabad its eighth destination in India. The airline would operate its Boeing 777-220 aircraft, which can seat 288, four days a week. After the launch, the total number of flights to India by the airline would go up to 46 (a week). In addition to this, SilkAir operates eight weekly services to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. The airline would also increase the frequency of flights to Bangalore from three to five from October 30.

B K Ong, general manager (India) of Singapore Airlines, said the company had a lot of confidence in Andhra Pradesh, which was backed by good financial indicators and tourism potential. He said, "It has got good potential in temple tourism, medical tourism and beach tourism. Besides, corporate traffic too is growing. The proposed international airport would make Hyderabad a hub between the East and European Union."