Dhaka : Indian low-cost airline Air India Express will be starting daily direct flights from Kolkata and Chennai to Dhaka respectively on September 3.

The airline is offering 25 per cent lower fares than others on the routes, said reports.

Promotional one-way fares begin from BDT 6760 on Dhaka-Kolkata and BDT 10,423 on Dhaka-Chennai routes while the return fares begin at BDT 11,764 and BDT 17,160 respectively.

About the development, Shohag Hossain, Managing Director, Rhythm Group (MAAS Travel and Tours Ltd), the General Sales Agent (GSA) of Air India Express in Bangladesh, said, "This fare is 25-30 per cent less than other airlines currently operating in these two destinations."

Hossain expressed, business travellers, tourists and medical patients on the route are expected to benefit from the competitive pricing that is eyed to facilitate increased passenger traffic between Bangladesh and India.

Air India Express also plans to expand its operations in Bangladesh by introducing flights from Chattogram and Sylhet, added reports citing Hossain.

Air India Express will be operating a brand-new Boeing 737 MAX on the routes. The aircraft will feature Business Class-currently unavailable in any other budget carrier, operating in Bangladesh.

There will be leather seats with extra legroom, hot meal options, special equipment carry options and additional seating options among various other add-ons, informed reports.

The features are aimed at providing passengers with quality service equivalent to a legacy carrier, mentioned Hossain.

Air India Express operates over 2000 flights weekly to 45 destinations across India, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

With 59 aircraft in fleet, Air India Express has 161 new Boeing 737 MAX 8 and MAX 10 aircraft on order. On average, it adds four new aircraft to fleet each month.