Bangalore: Singapore Airlines (SIA) on August 28 began its thrice-weekly direct flights from the Singapore Changi Airport to Bangalore.

SIA, which uses a Boeing 777 aircraft, will directly link the city-state with India's silicon valley on Monday, Thursday and Saturday with return flights on the same days.

"We have a very strong commitment to expand direct links between India and Singapore, and Bangalore is one of India's fastest growing centres. I am sure Bangalore will prove to be a very popular new destination in our network and hope these services can help boost business and tourism in both countries," SIA executive vice president marketing and the regions Huang Cheng Eng said in a statement.

Welcoming the inaugural flight from Singapore, Karnataka IT and Tourism Minister D B Inamdar said, "We have been waiting for this day for a long time and we are happy to have a carrier, which has a world-class service."

Bangalore will become the fifth Indian city to be served by SIA, joining New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

"Singapore and Bangalore have many things in common and we appreciate Singapore's contribution to the growth of Bangalore by the way of participating in the technology park with the Tata's," Inamdar said.

The new services to Bangalore mean that SIA will operate 26 non-stop flights per week to destinations in India, with its subsidiary SilkAir operating 11 services a week.

PTI