Background
If there is one place in North India which is considered as quintessential (other than the Taj Mahal of course), it will be the bejeweled and dazzling region of Rajasthan - Land of Princes, Forts, opulent palaces, elephants, and turbans. This would be yet another of my adventure in the region whereby I had previously written about my adventures in Jaipur (here), Udaipur (here).
For this particular trip, I headed to the most remote and least known corner of Rajasthan, to a town called Bikaner, at the edge of the desert, and the last stop before Pakistan. To get here, as up to the recent past, train was the only reasonably comfortable option. However, since the last 2 years or so, a little known airline (Supreme Airlines) has been plying the route on what seems to be a subsidised route with fares in the range of INR 6,000 (slightly above S$100). I have been intrigued by this airline for awhile especially since it only has a fleet of 9-seater Cessnas, something that is a rarity in the bigger hubs. When winter set in, and I started exploring the region again, I jumped at the opportunity to try this “almost private jet” experience at such an incredibly affordable fare. The route was from Bikaner to Jaipur.
Since it’s a short flight, and therefore the report would be short, I am adding spice to it by also sharing the Taj Hotel frequent guest’s exclusive benefit for its Platinum members (80 night’s required), which is a curation of bespoke experiences crafted in its hotels. For this particular trip, since I would be in Jaipur, I reserved myself the Platinum Experience called The Royal Treatment at Rambagh Palace and described as “Ornate corridors of the Rambagh Palace lead you to a beautiful Baradari overlooking the Palace Gardens and the exterior façade. Decorated with exotic flowers and candles, the Baradari gives you an exceptionally royal experience as you tuck into a delicious 3-course dinner”
Part 1:
Airline: Supreme Airlines
Flight number: 604
Seat: 2A
Type: Cessna Grand Caravan C208B
Class: Club Economy
Load: 4/9
Booking the flight was extremely easy on their website www.supremeairlines.com . All purchase was online with live availability shown and e-ticket was issued instantly. Seat selection is also available online prior to to e-ticketing. They publish 2 fares: Economy and Premium. Economy is for the first and last rows of the plane while Club Economy which is about S$10 more expensive is in 1-1 configuration facing each other. Interesting configuration.
My journey started in remote dusty Bikaner which has an airport that is somewhat quite a white elephant. Since the past 2 years or so, only Supreme Airlines flies a 9-seater once a day from here to the state capital, Jaipur, which means that the airport is used only by a maximum of 9 people a day and I believe the actual load will be at most 50% of that on average. Recently, Air India had also commenced flights from Delhi using an ATR42 which potentially quadruples the number of passengers per day.
Bikaner Airport is on a Long dusty state highway where cars share space with camels.
The turn into the airport is quite well signposted although the road leading from it seems to lead to nowhere!
And considering the airport is hardly used by civilian passengers, it is a gated compound. and guards countercheck passengers’ names against their manifest before even allowing vehicles to enter. Not difficult considering there are less than 5 passengers
Terminal building seems "in the works" and rather makeshift and is definitely oversized to serve 9 passengers, and today there would only be 4: me, my friend, and 2 other passengers.
There is only a simple checking-in system with baggage handled manually. The Hall seems makeshift.
Boarding pass is handprinted! and is really nice and colourful and will make a good postcard.
Looking around, the airport is very lonely. Security was manned by more personnel than passengers. And they were very thorough with each and every bag opened. I Guess they try to make their time really fruitful.
Looking out of the waiting lounge. Baggage handling system is a trolley pushed by staff!
Not too long after, our tiny bird finally arrived. It parked quite a distance from the terminal.
If there is one place in North India which is considered as quintessential (other than the Taj Mahal of course), it will be the bejeweled and dazzling region of Rajasthan - Land of Princes, Forts, opulent palaces, elephants, and turbans. This would be yet another of my adventure in the region whereby I had previously written about my adventures in Jaipur (here), Udaipur (here).
For this particular trip, I headed to the most remote and least known corner of Rajasthan, to a town called Bikaner, at the edge of the desert, and the last stop before Pakistan. To get here, as up to the recent past, train was the only reasonably comfortable option. However, since the last 2 years or so, a little known airline (Supreme Airlines) has been plying the route on what seems to be a subsidised route with fares in the range of INR 6,000 (slightly above S$100). I have been intrigued by this airline for awhile especially since it only has a fleet of 9-seater Cessnas, something that is a rarity in the bigger hubs. When winter set in, and I started exploring the region again, I jumped at the opportunity to try this “almost private jet” experience at such an incredibly affordable fare. The route was from Bikaner to Jaipur.
Since it’s a short flight, and therefore the report would be short, I am adding spice to it by also sharing the Taj Hotel frequent guest’s exclusive benefit for its Platinum members (80 night’s required), which is a curation of bespoke experiences crafted in its hotels. For this particular trip, since I would be in Jaipur, I reserved myself the Platinum Experience called The Royal Treatment at Rambagh Palace and described as “Ornate corridors of the Rambagh Palace lead you to a beautiful Baradari overlooking the Palace Gardens and the exterior façade. Decorated with exotic flowers and candles, the Baradari gives you an exceptionally royal experience as you tuck into a delicious 3-course dinner”
Part 1:
Airline: Supreme Airlines
Flight number: 604
Seat: 2A
Type: Cessna Grand Caravan C208B
Class: Club Economy
Load: 4/9
Booking the flight was extremely easy on their website www.supremeairlines.com . All purchase was online with live availability shown and e-ticket was issued instantly. Seat selection is also available online prior to to e-ticketing. They publish 2 fares: Economy and Premium. Economy is for the first and last rows of the plane while Club Economy which is about S$10 more expensive is in 1-1 configuration facing each other. Interesting configuration.
My journey started in remote dusty Bikaner which has an airport that is somewhat quite a white elephant. Since the past 2 years or so, only Supreme Airlines flies a 9-seater once a day from here to the state capital, Jaipur, which means that the airport is used only by a maximum of 9 people a day and I believe the actual load will be at most 50% of that on average. Recently, Air India had also commenced flights from Delhi using an ATR42 which potentially quadruples the number of passengers per day.
Bikaner Airport is on a Long dusty state highway where cars share space with camels.
The turn into the airport is quite well signposted although the road leading from it seems to lead to nowhere!
And considering the airport is hardly used by civilian passengers, it is a gated compound. and guards countercheck passengers’ names against their manifest before even allowing vehicles to enter. Not difficult considering there are less than 5 passengers
Terminal building seems "in the works" and rather makeshift and is definitely oversized to serve 9 passengers, and today there would only be 4: me, my friend, and 2 other passengers.
There is only a simple checking-in system with baggage handled manually. The Hall seems makeshift.
Boarding pass is handprinted! and is really nice and colourful and will make a good postcard.
Looking around, the airport is very lonely. Security was manned by more personnel than passengers. And they were very thorough with each and every bag opened. I Guess they try to make their time really fruitful.
Looking out of the waiting lounge. Baggage handling system is a trolley pushed by staff!
Not too long after, our tiny bird finally arrived. It parked quite a distance from the terminal.
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