Travel by Air to Andaman and Nicobar

Surrounded by the sea from all the sides, the only way to reach Andaman Islands is either via waterways or airways. Though it is comparatively cheaper, traveling by sea takes a few days and during rough sea phases, the journey gets tougher. Storms hit the ships and make them unstable. Consequently, traveling to Andaman by air is the most optimum solution. 

Andaman and Nicobar Islands house its one and only international airport for tourists at Port Blair, its capital city. The Veer Savarkar International Airport (IXZ) is a civil enclave and is shared with the Indian Navy. The Airport adheres to the international standards and has two terminals. Currently, flying in Andamans occurs only during the day time.

The flight to Port Blair is simply beautiful. As you look out of the window, you witness the long coastline of Indian Mainland as well as India’s Island Territory. As you move from the mainland to the islands, you see a change in the colour of the sea. From dark grey to deep blue to green to shades of light cyan. This excites one to rum and jump into the beaches of Andamans. You see a change in terrain, the geography changes. Heavy canopies of the tropical and deciduous trees hide what’s underneath, making you want to even explore the deep forests of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.  

While the metropolitan cities offer direct flights, to come from anywhere else you need to opt for connecting flights. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai offer these direct flights. Flight duration ranges from 2 hours to 3.5 hours depending on the distance. While direct flights operate on the Kolkata to Port Blair, Bangalore to Port Blair and Chennai to Port Blair route almost daily, direct flights from Delhi to Port Blair and Mumbai to Port Blair are limited but increase in the tourist season. 

Kolkata to Port Blair Flight

Kolkata lies closest to Port Blair and hence the fare from here is also the cheapest. The distance between Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata and Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair is 1,302 km which is covered in 2-2.5 hours. Maximum number of flights run on this route. Air India, Indigo, Spicejet, and Vistara run on this route. The airfare starts at approximately INR 4,000 and varies seasonally. 

Chennai to Port Blair Flight

Next in line is Madras International Meenambakkam Airport at Chennai which is at a distance of 1,362 km. It takes about 2-2.5 hours to reach Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair. Daily flights run on this route and are operated by Air India, Indigo, Spicejet, and Akasa Air. The airfare starts at INR 5,500 and varies depending on demand and season.

Bangalore to Port Blair Flight

Kempegowda International Airport at Bangalore and Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair are situated 1,650 km apart. Flights take about 2.25- 2.5 hours to cover this distance. Though flights run daily, the number of flights per day is lesser than that from Kolkata and Chennai. Indigo and Vistara operate flights from Bangalore to Port Blair. The fare starts at INR 6,500. 

Mumbai to Port Blair Flight

Introduction of air travel from Mumbai to Port Blair eased traveling 2,280 km across from the western coast of India to the eastern island group of Andamans. This journey takes approximately 3.5 hours to complete. Indigo flies from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at Mumbai to Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair. Currently, flights on this route are not operational but they start once the tourism season peaks. The fare starts at approximately INR 8,000. 

New Delhi to Port Blair Flight

Farthest from Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair, Indira Gandhi International Airport at New Delhi is situated 2,496 km away. This is the longest direct flight to Port Blair and takes about 3.5 hours. Air India operates on this route every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday. Air tickets start at INR 10,000 for this route.

The return flights operate on the same routes as the ones that bring people from the Mainland to Andaman. Flight routes and fares keep changing depending on the number of tourists, travel season, and weather conditions. However, some of the cities are always connected. It is a good idea to check the flights on the official website to confirm its functionality. 

Port Blair to Kolkata Flight

Port Blair to Kolkata is a famous route and a lot of people opt for it because of its economic pricing and less travel time. Air India, Indigo, Vistara, and Spicejet offer their services starting at INR 5,200.

Port Blair to Chennai Flight

Port Blair and Chennai have good connectivity and a number of operators run their flights in this sector. Air India, Indigo, Vistara, Spicejet, and Akasa Air fly from Port Blair to Chennai with a minimum airfare of INR 6,000.

Port Blair to Bangalore Flight

The distance between Port Blair and Bangalore is covered by Air India, Indigo, Vistara, Akasa Air. Flights run daily and the cost of tickets start at INR 7,500.

Port Blair to Mumbai Flight

Indigo carries passengers from Port Blair to Mumbai but currently, this sector is not operational. More flights here are introduced by Indigo during the winter seasons when most people visit Andamans. However, the approximate fare for this route starts at INR 8,000.

Port Blair to New Delhi Flight

Flights from Port Blair to New Delhi operate every Monday, Thursday, Saturday. Currently, Air India is the sole operator on this route and the airfare starts at INR 10,500.

Knowing a few trips and tricks of booking air travel not only benefits one financially but also sometimes ends up giving you a great experience. Finding cheaper flight tickets requires a bit of strategy and flexibility. Here are top 10 G2A tips for your happy landings!

1. Book in Advance: Generally, booking your flight tickets well in advance can help you secure lower prices, especially for popular travel seasons and destinations. The best time is 1-4 months before your intended travel date.
2. Be Flexible with Your Travel Dates: If your travel dates are flexible, try to avoid peak seasons, holidays, and weekends when ticket prices tend to be higher. Instead, opt for traveling on weekdays or during off-peak times to find cheaper fares.
3. Use Fare Comparison Websites: Utilize fare comparison websites and apps to compare prices across multiple airlines and booking platforms. They help you find offers, coupons and best deals.
4. Sign Up for Price Alerts: Subscribe to fare alerts or set up notifications on travel websites and apps to receive updates on price drops for your desired routes. This way, you’ll be notified when ticket prices decrease, allowing you to book at the right time.
5. Consider Alternate Airports: Check if there is any alternative arrangement that can help reduce costs such as taking connecting flights or traveling by road or rail to cities like Kolkata and Chennai and then heading to your destination.
6. Be Open to Layovers: Opting for flights with layovers instead of direct flights can often be cheaper. However, make sure to consider the duration of layovers and overall travel time before booking.
7. Use Airline Miles and Rewards: If you’re a frequent traveler, consider signing up for airline loyalty programs and credit cards that offer travel rewards and miles. Accumulated miles can be redeemed for discounted or even free flights. 
8. Clear Your Browser Cookies: Some airlines and booking websites may track your browsing history and inflate prices if they detect repeated searches for the same route. Clear your browser cookies or use private browsing mode to avoid this. 
9. Be Ready to Book Quickly: When you spot a good deal, be prepared to book it quickly. Prices can change rapidly, especially for highly sought-after routes or limited-time promotions.
10. Consider Budget Airlines: Explore options offered by budget airlines, which often provide cheaper fares compared to full-service carriers.

With Tourism kicking in Andamans and the new tourism policies being implemented, air connectivity will also improve. Currently, only day flights operate in Andamans but soon Night flights will start, enabling easier travel to the Islands. It has been proposed that Air India will operate night flights from Kolkata and Chennai. 

Additionally, a second airport will come up at Diglipur to facilitate easy access to the Northern areas of Andaman. Currently, helicopters fly to and from Diglipur, mostly for medical emergencies but soon, the Airport will improve the connectivity and tourists will be able to travel to places like Saddle Peak, Ross and Smith Island, Avis Island, Button Island and so on.