Varanasi gains a new direct air link to Vijayawada and onward to Kolkata
IndiGo has begun commercial operations on the Vijayawada–Varanasi–Kolkata sector, a move that will add a new travel option for passengers travelling to and from Varanasi. The service was launched at Vijayawada International Airport on August 13, with the ceremony attended in person by local MPs and MLAs and virtually by Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, airport authorities said.
The inaugural day saw 89 passengers arrive at Vijayawada from Varanasi and 129 passengers depart Vijayawada for Varanasi, the airport authority reported. Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath and Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkata Rao were present and handed over the first boarding passes on the inaugural flight, according to officials.
"Passengers would benefit from completing all customs and immigration formalities directly at the Vijayawada International Airport before transferring flights at the hub," the Union Minister said.
The new service will operate three days a week — Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays — and follows the schedule published by airport authorities. Flight timings are arranged to connect Kolkata and Vijayawada via Varanasi, offering both inbound and outbound connections for travellers to the temple city.
- Frequency: Three flights per week (Tue, Thu, Sat)
- Inaugural day traffic: 89 arrivals from Varanasi; 129 departures for Varanasi
- Key officials present: Union Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu (virtual), MPs Kesineni Sivanath and Vallabhaneni Balashowry, MLA Yarlagadda Venkata Rao
Officials outlined a broader plan to expand Vijayawada's connectivity. Mr Naidu said flights to Pune, Ahmedabad and Cochin would be introduced in due course, and that a hub-and-spoke operational model was being planned with Vijayawada acting as a spoke to major international hubs. Under that model, passengers would be able to complete customs and immigration formalities at Vijayawada before transferring to international connections at hub airports, the Minister added.
| Flight | Sector | Departure | Arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6E 6501 | Kolkata–Varanasi–Vijayawada | Kolkata 14:15 | Varanasi 15:25; Vijayawada 17:50 |
| 6E 6502 | Vijayawada–Varanasi–Kolkata | Vijayawada 18:20 | Varanasi 20:15; Kolkata 22:15 |
While the direct commercial benefit for Varanasi residents is immediate — an additional connection for leisure, business and pilgrimage travel — the longer-term implications depend on how the hub-and-spoke idea is executed and whether further frequencies are introduced. The Union Minister also said work was on to complete a new integrated terminal building at Vijayawada, whose design would reflect local art and culture, and that future seaplane operations were being considered for sites such as Prakasam Barrage, Srisailam, Hussain Sagar and Nagarjuna Sagar.
For Varanasi, an additional slot on an established domestic carrier can ease pressure on existing services during peak seasons, provide alternative routing for travellers from eastern and southern India, and potentially support local tourism and business travel. Airport authorities and the carrier will be watched closely by industry observers for any announcements on increased frequencies or additional sectors linking Varanasi with other regional centres.
Travel agents and frequent flyers in the city are likely to monitor load factors on the new sector, while pilgrimage and tourism stakeholders may view the link as an opportunity to broaden their outreach to markets in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. The service's commercial viability over the coming months will determine whether it expands beyond the current tri-weekly schedule.
