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LucknowVaranasi, the cultural capital of the country, is rapidly expanding its reach at the international level. After the closure of Lucknow to Bangkok flight, Air India Express has now decided to directly connect Varanasi’s Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport (Bawatpur) to Thailand. The airlines have opened the booking window for this direct flight service starting from February 1, 2026 and have also announced the starting fares. At present it is less than nine thousand.
Why was Varanasi chosen?
It is noteworthy that till some time ago, two flights operated from Lucknow to Bangkok, one by Air Asia and the other by Air India Express. However, last year due to low number of passengers, Air India Express had suspended its services from Lucknow before the winter schedule. After this, the airlines shifted this aircraft to the route of Gulf countries and started survey in other major cities of India. In the survey of Varanasi, it was found that from here the number of tourists going to Thailand and foreign travelers traveling to the Buddhist Circuit is quite high. In view of this demand, the airlines decided to make Varanasi the new hub for Bangkok.
Flight schedules and timings
According to airlines sources, this flight service will be available on scheduled days of the week. Its schedule is as follows:
Varanasi to Bangkok (IX-215): This flight will take off from Varanasi Airport at 12:35 pm and land in Bangkok at 6:05 pm Thailand time.
Bangkok to Varanasi (IX-216): In return, this aircraft will take off from Bangkok Airport at 7:05 pm and reach Varanasi directly at 9:35 pm.
Fares and Bookings
To attract tourists, Air India Express has kept the starting fare very competitive. The starting fare for one way has been fixed at Rs 8,857. However, this fare is subject to change as per travel date and demand. Passengers can book their tickets through the airlines’ official websites or major travel portals.
Tourism and trade will get a boost
The commencement of Varanasi-Bangkok direct flight will provide great relief not only to Purvanchal, but also to the passengers of neighboring states Bihar and Nepal. Expansion of Buddhist Circuit: Thailand is a Buddhist-dominated country, where people come to Varanasi to visit Sarnath and Kushinagar. Direct flights will lead to a huge surge in religious tourism. Easy access for Indian tourists: Bangkok is a favorite holiday destination for Indian tourists. Now they will not need to go to Delhi or Kolkata. Cargo facility: This route will also increase the possibilities of export of local handicrafts and fresh vegetables. Varanasi Airport Administration believes that this flight will not only be successful, but will also open new routes for other South-East Asian countries in the future.
