Air India Express officials and passengers pose for a group photo before departing to Dubai at Surat Airport on Sunday. X photo

The airline’s inaugural flight from Surat to Dubai, IX 173, took off on Sunday at 11:40am carrying 171 passengers.

"Surat holds great importance for Air India Express as we expand our network on the back of a new fleet. I am delighted that we are part of the moment when Surat International Airport is growing and unveiling its new terminal. Air India Express is committed to fuelling the growth story of Surat, as we connect the City of Diamonds to the City of Gold with this historic flight,” said Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express.

Taking to X, the airline saidm “We are thrilled as we took off for our inaugural flight from the City of Diamond to the City of Gold, from the fabulous new Surat International Terminal on 17 Dec 2023! Special thanks to #SuratInternationalAirport and @MoCA_GoI for their constant support. #FlyAsYouAre, and enjoy comfy seats and a wide range of our Gourmair Hot meals. Let's #FlyTheSparkle together on this thrilling journey!”

Currently, Air India Express stands as the exclusive airline facilitating international flights from Surat, with a frequency of five weekly flights to Sharjah.

The airline has announced the schedule for the four weekly operations on the Surat-Dubai route.

Indo-Asian News Service