India's largest airline IndiGo is ramping up its presence in Central Asia by launching direct international flights from Mumbai to Almaty and Tashkent—marking a strategic shift after suspending operations from Delhi due to Pakistan airspace closure. The airline will also launch flights to the Georgian capital of Tbilisi from Mumbai in a move that signals a renewed focus on strengthening connectivity between India and Central Asia amid robust demand.
Starting July 1, IndiGo will commence operations from Mumbai to Kazakhstan's largest city Almaty, followed by flights to Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, from August 1 and to Tbilisi from August 2, the airline said in a statement on Tuesday.
The airline plans to run four weekly flights to both Almaty and Tashkent, and three weekly flights to Tbilisi, significantly enhancing travel options for passengers seeking to explore or do business in the region.
"Building on the success of our Delhi – Central Asia routes, we are extremely pleased to announce direct flights to Almaty, Tashkent and Tbilisi from Mumbai, reinforcing our commitment to connecting India to the world," said Vinay Malhotra, head of global sales at IndiGo. "These routes will further enhance accessibility to these culturally rich destinations, fostering global connections and enriching tourism."
The closure of Pakistan airspace has increased duration of IndiGo's Tbilisi flight from Delhi by around 45 minutes, while flights to Almaty and Tashkent, which have been cancelled from April 27, remain suspended due to operational constraints.
IndiGo's Mumbai-Almaty launch also comes at a time when Kazakhstan's major carrier Air Astana expanded its India footprint by launching direct flights between Mumbai and Almaty, starting with three flights a week. Earlier in April, Astana had said that it managed to maintain and even grow its India operations, currently flying 11 times a week between Delhi and Almaty, and now adding Mumbai as a second Indian destination.
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