IndiGo has announced its entry into the Chinese market. The budget airline will start daily non-stop flights between Delhi and Chengdu, China from September 15. With this, IndiGo became the first airline to begin a non-stop service between Chengdu and India.
China is a market with immense potential and holds prominent trade, cultural and tourism values. We hope to further strengthen this relation by announcing our entry into China, William Boulter, Chief Commercial Officer of IndiGo said.
This is truly a milestone moment for all of us at IndiGo. India is witnessing a much higher growth rate concerning aviation, and currently, the India-China route is underserved by Indian carriers, he added.
The route is yet to receive its necessary regulatory approval. The ticket sale will begin only after securing the approval.
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IndiGo that currently has nearly 50% of market share in the aviation industry is operating on five other international routes in Asia. The flight service to Chengdu is its 19th destination.
A report by Times of India said that IndiGo is likely to start services to Guangzhou as well.
In line with its international expansion strategy, IndiGo has enhanced connectivity in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Among the existing 18 destinations, 11 were announced in 2018-19. Flight services to Istanbul, Jeddah, and Dammam have been the latest additions. Along with this, 2019 has also witnessed IndiGo’s first codeshare agreement with Turkish Airlines, one of the largest airlines in Europe. The codeshare agreement has benefitted the customers with extended connectivity to 12 destinations in Europe, a statement released by the airline said.
At present, Air India provides services to China. Although there are only a handful of Indian carriers considering the option, several Chinese airlines are flying to India. Known for their affordability, the Chinese carriers are popular among the frequent flyers.
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