SpiceJet, one of India’s largest airlines, said it has started 18 new temporary flights to help deal with the cancellations of flights to and from Kerala due to the ongoing flights.
Some of these flights were operational only today, while some will be there for three days, while others will be there daily for the next one week (see chart below).
The move is likely to benefit Keralites who have been trying to get in or out of the state, but have found their flights and trains canceled due to the ongoing heavy rains and floods.
The flights will be operated to Calicut and Trivandrum from cities such as Chennai, Bangalore and Dubai. No flights have been announced for Kochi, where the airport remains submerged under water.
A total of 76 flights will be carried out, the airline said.
“Effective from 17th August 2018, the airline will operate new and additional direct flights on the routes of Chennai-Thiruvanathapuram, Bengaluru-Kozhikode, Male-Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode-Chennai, and Dubai-Kozhikode,” it said.
SpiceJet will be deploying a mix of both Boeing 737 and Q400 on these routes.
SpiceJet said it is also offering passengers booked on flights to and from Kochi a full refund on cancellations, waiver of change fees and fare difference for the same sector and for booking an alternate flight for the next 10 days from date of travel.
Passengers have also been offered the option to take flights out of Coimbatore, Madurai, Tuticorin, Calicut and Trivandrum.
The tickets for the new flights are available for booking via normal channels.
| Flight Number | Origin | Destination | Departure | Arrival | Effective Dates | Aircraft Type |
| SG 3073 | Chennai | Thiruvanathapuram | 10:00 AM | 11:20 AM | 17-Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 91 | Thiruvanathapuram | Male | 12:35 PM | 2:25 PM | 17-Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 92 | Male | Thiruvanathapuram | 3:15 PM | 5:00 PM | 17-Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 3074 | Thiruvanathapuram | Chennai | 5:55 PM | 7:25 PM | 17-Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9425 | Bengaluru | Khozikhode | 1:30 PM | 2:35 PM | 18-Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9426 | Khozikhode | Bengaluru | 2:55 PM | 3:55 PM | 18-Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9467 | Bengaluru | Khozikhode | 2:15 PM | 3:20 PM | 19 – 20Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9468 | Khozikhode | Bengaluru | 4:10 PM | 5:15 PM | 19 – 20Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9465 | Bengaluru | Thiruvanathapuram | 9:30 AM | 10:55 AM | 18 – 20Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9466 | Thiruvanathapuram | Bengaluru | 11:40 AM | 1:05 PM | 18 – 20Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9073 | Chennai | Thiruvanathapuram | 10:05 AM | 11:40 AM | 18 – 26Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 9074 | Thiruvanathapuram | Chennai | 12:00 noon | 1:35 PM | 18 – 26Aug | Q-400 |
| SG 911 | Bengaluru | Thiruvanathapuram | 12:25 PM | 1:25 PM | 20- 26Aug | Boeing |
| SG 912 | Thiruvanathapuram | Bengaluru | 1:55 PM | 2:55 PM | 20 – 26Aug | Boeing |
| SG 608 | Khozikhode | Chennai | 10:20 AM | 11:35 AM | 20 – 27Aug | Boeing |
| SG 605 | Chennai | Khozikhode | 8:40 PM | 10:05 PM | 19- 26Aug | Boeing |
| SG 17 | Khozikhode | Dubai | 11:30 PM | 2:00 AM | 19 – 26Aug | Boeing |
| SG 18 | Dubai | Khozikhode | 3:05 AM | 8:45 AM | 20 – 27Aug | Boeing |