Archive · 14 Aug 2026
IndiGo Launches Vijayawada-Varanasi-Kolkata Flights, Operating Thrice Weekly
An airline company called IndiGo has started flying planes between three cities in India: Vijayawada, Varanasi, and Kolkata.
The flights run three days every week — Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday.
On the first day, 129 people flew from Vijayawada to Varanasi, and 89 people arrived the other way.
A special ceremony was held at the Vijayawada International Airport to celebrate the new service.
India's Civil Aviation Minister, Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, joined the ceremony by video.
Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath and Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkata Rao attended in person and handed out the first boarding passes.
Tickets cost around Rs 6,500 to Rs 8,000.
The government also plans to add flights to cities like Pune, Ahmedabad, and Kochi in the future, and leaders have asked for direct international flights to Dubai.
The airline may add more services if passenger demand is strong.
The new route helps people travel for work, study, tourism, and religious visits.
IndiGo launched new flight services connecting Vijayawada with Varanasi and Kolkata, operating three days a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
On the inaugural day, 89 passengers arrived at Vijayawada from Varanasi, while 129 passengers departed Vijayawada for Varanasi.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu and Machilipatnam MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry inaugurated the services virtually, while Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath and Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkata Rao attended in person and presented the first boarding passes.
Naidu said the Ministry of Civil Aviation was working to expand Vijayawada's connectivity, with flights to Pune, Ahmedabad and Cochin to be added soon, plus planned Hub-and-Spoke operations, a new integrated terminal and future seaplane services.
Ticket fares range between approximately Rs 6,500 and Rs 8,000, and reports differ on flight 6E 6501's Kolkata departure time (2:10 pm vs 2:15 pm).
- Who
- IndiGo Airlines; Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu; Machilipatnam MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry; Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath; Gannavaram MLA Yarlagadda Venkata Rao
- What
- Launched new flight services connecting Vijayawada with Varanasi and Kolkata, operating three days a week
- When
- Thursday, Aug 13, with the report datelined Aug 13; the inaugural ceremony was held the same evening
- Where
- Vijayawada International Airport (Gannavaram), on the Vijayawada–Varanasi–Kolkata route
- Why
- To expand air connectivity for the people of Andhra Pradesh and fulfil long-standing local demand for the Varanasi service, benefiting pilgrims, travellers, students and NRIs
- Airline
- IndiGo (IndiGo Airlines)
- Route
- Vijayawada–Varanasi–Kolkata (both directions)
- Frequency
- Three days a week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday)
- Flight Numbers
- 6E 6501 (Kolkata–Varanasi–Vijayawada) and 6E 6502 (Vijayawada–Varanasi–Kolkata)
- Inaugural Day Traffic
- 129 passengers departed Vijayawada for Varanasi; 89 arrived in Vijayawada from Varanasi
- Fares
- Approximately Rs 6,500 to Rs 8,000
- Future Flights Announced
- Pune, Ahmedabad and Cochin (Kochi)
- Planned Developments
- Hub-and-Spoke operations, new integrated terminal, seaplane services
