Channel News Asia 

Chennai, Oct 29: Air India's budget arm, Air India Express or AIE, launched its inaugural flight to Singapore on Sunday.

The first Indian low-cost carrier to fly to Changi, AIE will operate five weekly non-stop services between Singapore and Chennai in India.

AIE's average return fare can go as low as $600.

That is at least 25-50 percent lower than what is currently available on other full service carriers such as Jet Airways and Singapore Airlines.

The flight takes about 4 hours and includes free boxed meals and some in-flight entertainment.

Travel between Singapore and India is getting increasingly popular.

Just in the first nine months of this year, 1.5 million passengers travelled between the two countries.

That's an increase of 22 percent over the same period last year."

The Singapore-Chennai route also saw a 15 percent increase over the same period.

But Air India Express does not plan to just stop at Chennai.

It may consider places like Hyderabad and Bangalore, according to Air India's chairman, V Thulasidas.

But cities like Mumbai and Delhi are off-limits as these routes will be kept for the main Air India carrier.

For now, bookings are looking good for Air India Express.

Some of its flights on the Singapore-Chennai route over the next two weeks are more than 90 percent booked.

AIE hopes to increase the frequency of its flights from five times a week to daily, probably by year end.