IndiGo has introduced a new daily direct flight connecting Kolkata and Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad, further expanding its domestic network. Flight number 6E 2588 will depart from Kolkata at 5:50 AM and arrive at Hindon by 8:00 AM. The return journey will leave Hindon at 8:50 AM and land in Kolkata by 11:00 AM, the airline confirmed in an official statement.
This move marks a strategic expansion for IndiGo in the National Capital Region (NCR), as Hindon Airport becomes its second operational hub in the NCR after Delhi.
In addition to Kolkata, IndiGo will also begin operating flights from Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Goa, Indore, Mumbai, Patna, and Varanasi to Hindon Airport. The airline emphasized that this expansion aims to provide greater connectivity and convenience to travelers in Ghaziabad, Noida, East and Central Delhi, as well as Western Uttar Pradesh.
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu inaugurated the new routes, highlighting the government’s commitment to improving regional air connectivity.
Hindon Airport in Ghaziabad Gets Connectivity Boost with New IndiGo Flights
Ghaziabad’s Hindon Airport has received a major connectivity upgrade as Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu inaugurated new flight routes by IndiGo Airlines on Saturday, according to ANI.
With this launch, IndiGo becomes the second airline, after Air India Express, to operate from Hindon Airport. The expansion now connects the airport to nine major cities across India: Indore, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Varanasi, Goa, Patna, Chennai, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad.
Calling the development a landmark moment, Minister Kinjarapu stated, “This is a UDAN success for Hindon, Ghaziabad, Western Uttar Pradesh, and the entire country. It represents the flight of ambition and dreams of common Indians.”
This step is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to improve regional air connectivity under the UDAN scheme, making air travel more accessible and affordable for all.4
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Hindon Airport Set to Become Key Regional Hub
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu highlighted the remarkable growth of India’s civil aviation sector, stating that over the last decade, the airline fleet, airport capacity, terminals, and passenger numbers have all doubled.
Looking ahead, the minister said, “Between 2024 and 2034, civil aviation will expand rapidly in Tier II and Tier III cities, and Hindon Airport will stand as a model for this growth.”
Originally developed under the UDAN scheme in 2019 at a cost of ₹50 crore, in partnership with the Indian Air Force, Hindon Airport is steadily evolving into an important regional aviation hub.
Passenger traffic has seen a massive jump, from 8,000 annually in 2019 to over 80,000 passengers in recent years, as per official figures shared by the minister.
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Modified UDAN Scheme to Boost Connectivity to 120 New Destinations
Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu also highlighted the government’s renewed commitment to regional connectivity in the upcoming Union Budget 2025–26. He announced that a modified UDAN scheme will be launched, aiming to connect 120 new destinations and serve 4 crore passengers over the next 10 years.
Just hours before IndiGo’s inaugural flights took off from Hindon Airport, the location also welcomed its first Air India Express flight from Kolkata, marking the airline’s official entry into this strategically located NCR airport. Air India Express will now operate direct flights from Hindon to Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Goa.
With both Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) and Hindon Airport (HDO) fully operational, air travelers in the National Capital Region (NCR) now have broader domestic travel options. Originally a military airbase, Hindon has steadily opened for civilian use under the Regional Connectivity Scheme, helping decongest Delhi Airport and improve accessibility for nearby cities.
