SilkAir launches flights to Chennai

Flight provides easier access for customers travelling from the USA, Europe, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

SilkAir, the regional wing of Singapore Airlines, has launched daily services between Singapore and Chennai, the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, according to a SilkAir report.

The first flight, MI 436, departed at 1345 hours on Monday from Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2 and touched down at Chennai International Airport at 1530 hours. The return flight then departed Chennai at 1615 hours and reached Singapore at 2245 hours the same day (all times local).

These new services will not only provide more flight choices, they will enable easy connections for customers travelling from the USA, Europe, Australia, Malaysia and Indonesia.

For customers from Chennai, the new service will offer direct flights to Singapore and the convenience of onward connections to more than 90 international destinations in the joint Singapore Airlines-SilkAir network. These newly introduced flights to Chennai complement Singapore Airlines’ existing daily flights to the city. In total, the SIA Group of airlines will be offering two daily flights between Singapore and Chennai.

For passengers from Chennai eager to visit Singapore, the Lion City boasts a multitude of attractions, such as the newly-opened Universal Studios Singapore at Resorts World Sentosa, the ever popular Night Safari, Singapore Botanical Gardens, the Singapore Flyer, as well as cultural landmarks in Arab Street, Chinatown and Geylang Serai. Additionally, visitors can take advantage of the great deals and discounts offered on numerous consumer items during the annual Great Singapore Sale (GSS).

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is located on the Coromandel coast and is a primary gateway to South India. This vibrant city is blessed with a wealth of music, art and culture and is steeped in history. It is also popular for the glitz and glamour of Kollywood, the 'Tamil film industry'. Visitors to Chennai can tour historic landmarks such as Fort St. George (regarded as the birthplace of the modern Indian army), Kamaraj Memorial House, MGR Memorial and the Thousand Lights Mosque. Chennai is also famous for its sandy beaches and beautiful parks.

SilkAir Chief Executive, Mr Chin Yau Seng, said: “SilkAir is thrilled to start flights to this historical and dynamic city. Chennai is a great destination for all travellers; whether you want a taste of culture, a peek into India’s rich heritage or just a weekend getaway to relax or to shop, this city has it all. This new service will complement Singapore Airlines’ existing services, thus giving our customers more flexibility and choice of schedules.”

SilkAir’s venture into the Indian market began in June 1999 when it began services to Thiruvananthapuram (also known as Trivandrum), the capital of the southwestern state of Kerala. Since then, the airline has steadily built up its Indian network. With the addition of Chennai, SilkAir now flies to six points in the country. Besides Thiruvananthapuram (three times weekly services), SilkAir operates flights to Bangalore (daily), Kochi (daily), Hyderabad (daily) and Coimbatore (three times weekly).