Hyderabad, Dec 31 (Reporter) A week after launching direct flights to Bangkok, Air India Express continues its expansion in Southeast Asia by announcing operations to Phuket, further strengthening its presence in Thailand. The direct flights connecting Hyderabad and Phuket starting January 31, 2025, operating three times a week on Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, the airlines said in a release on Tuesday. From February 15, the frequency will increase to six times a week, with daily flights except Tuesday. To celebrate the launch, special inaugural fares are available, with Xpress Value fares from ₹11,000 across major booking channels and Xpress Lite fares from ₹10,500 and additional discounts for loyalty members on its website, airindiaexpress.com and mobile apps. In addition to expanding internationally, the airline has announced Dibrugarh in Assam as a new station after adding Dimapur in Nagaland to its growing network in November this year. The airline will operate direct flights from Dibrugarh to Guwahati, with the same aircraft continuing to Delhi, providing convenient onward connectivity for travellers from Dibrugarh heading to the national capital. Bookings for these flights are now open on the airline’s website, airindiaexpress.com, and other major booking platforms. Commenting on the new launches, Aloke Singh, Managing Director, Air India Express, said, “This winter marks a significant milestone for Air India Express, as we expanded our network to over 50 destinations. This achievement is powered by our rapidly growing fleet, which now exceeds 90 aircraft and is poised to cross the 100 mark in early 2025. With equal focus on enhancing domestic connectivity from metros to Tier-2 cities and short and medium haul international routes, we remain steadfast in our commitment to enabling meaningful connections and personalised travel experiences with unique Indian warmth.” Air India Express will also offer convenient one-stop flights to Phuket from 16 cities across its network, including Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Goa, Guwahati, Jaipur, Jeddah, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Pune, Riyadh, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam, via Hyderabad. With direct flights to Guwahati, Air India Express will provide convenient one-stop connections from Dibrugarh to five major Indian cities: Bengaluru, Chennai, Delhi, Jaipur, and Kolkata. Renowned as the ‘Tea City of India,’ Dibrugarh is a vital industrial and cultural hub in Upper Assam, thriving on tea, oil, and tourism. This addition reflects Air India Express’s commitment to creating meaningful connections between places, people, and cultures, further enhancing opportunities for trade, tourism, and exploration...////...