As Indian travellers increasingly look beyond conventional holiday formats, distinctive destinations combined with ease of access and curated experiences are emerging as important considerations in holiday planning. Recognizing the opportunity across destinations where connectivity can be a consideration, Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have launched exclusive charter flights to Lakshadweep from Bengaluru for the year-end holiday season.
Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel will operate five exclusive charter departures between Bengaluru and Agatti from December 2026, creating enhanced access to Lakshadweep during the peak year-end travel period. The charter-led holiday is positioned as a premium, all-inclusive beach experience, bringing together exclusive charter connectivity, premium accommodation, meals and curated experiences for travellers seeking a more immersive island holiday.
The specially curated journeys provide access to the spectacular islands of Thinnakara and Bangaram, with a choice of premium stays including Praveg’s Atoll at Thinnakara, Taj Coral Pearl Bangaram and IHCL SeleQtions, Bangaram. Travellers can choose from non-sea-view and sea-view room categories, based on their preferred holiday experience. From turquoise waters and coral landscapes to the distinctive character of island living, the offering brings together the destination’s natural beauty with the convenience of an end-to-end holiday experience.
The charter initiative forms part of Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel’s broader focus on identifying opportunities where enhanced connectivity can enable greater access to sought-after destinations. During the same period, the companies are also operating charter flights to Bhutan from Mumbai, complementing the new Lakshadweep connectivity from Bengaluru. Together, these initiatives reflect an approach centered on identifying routes where there is an opportunity to bridge connectivity gaps and create more convenient access to destinations with strong traveller interest.
The Avismarniya Bhutan Fly Direct offering provides travellers with a curated opportunity to explore the Himalayan kingdom, with four distinct holiday products designed around different accommodation choices as well as differentiated experiences. This allows travellers to select a Bhutan journey based not just on where they stay, but also on the type of experience they want to enjoy across the destination. From Bhutan’s monasteries and dramatic landscapes to its distinctive cultural heritage and immersive experiences, the portfolio offers multiple ways to discover the Himalayan kingdom, supported by charter connectivity from Mumbai.
Across both destinations, the focus is on going beyond connectivity alone to create thoughtfully curated holiday experiences. Lakshadweep brings together a premium, all-inclusive island escape with exclusive charter connectivity from Bengaluru, while Bhutan combines charter access from Mumbai with a choice of four differentiated holiday products centered around the destination’s landscapes, culture and immersive experiences. Together, the charter-led journeys reflect the evolving preferences of Indian travellers for distinctive destinations that offer both ease of access and richer, more personalized holiday experiences.
Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “Indian travellers are increasingly looking for holidays that bring together distinctive destinations, greater convenience and meaningful experiences. Lakshadweep offers a compelling premium beach holiday proposition, and our charter series from Bengaluru brings together exclusive connectivity with premium accommodation, meals and curated experiences as an all-inclusive holiday. At the same time, our charter-led approach across Lakshadweep and Bhutan allows us to identify opportunities where enhanced connectivity can make sought-after destinations more accessible. This gives us the flexibility to create more distinctive holiday options in response to the way Indian travellers are choosing to travel today.”
S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel, said, “Charter-led travel enables us to look beyond conventional connectivity and create holiday opportunities around destinations where access can be enhanced through a more curated approach. Lakshadweep is particularly compelling as a premium, all-inclusive island holiday, while Bhutan offers a very different proposition centred around its landscapes, culture and immersive experiences. With charter operations from Bengaluru to Lakshadweep and from Mumbai to Bhutan, and four distinct Bhutan holiday products offering differentiated accommodation and experiences, we are bringing together destinations and travel formats that reflect the growing preference among Indian travellers for greater choice, convenience and more distinctive ways to holiday.”
