Budget flight operator GoAir on Thursday announced that it is set to expand its services to the United Arab Emirates with the launch of a new fleet to Sharjah from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi and Kannur.

The operations will start from Friday, it said.

At present, flights to the UAE are being operated under an Air Bubble Agreement as international flights to and from India have been suspended since March 23 in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

GoAir currently operates flights in Dubai.

The budget carrier is commencing scheduled direct flights to and from Mumbai, Delhi, Kochi, and Kannur to Sharjah under the Air Bubble Agreement effective January 1, it said in a release.

The flight schedule on India-Sharjah route is designed to provide convenience and flexibility to the passengers, it added.

“We have seen an enthusiastic response from our passengers travelling between India and the UAE, and there is immense pent-up demand on the said route. This has encouraged us to strengthen the network by adding these services between India and Sharjah,” the airline's CEO Kaushik Khona said.

The airline is offering a special introductory return fare, starting at Rs 11,560 for the flights on India Sharjah sector.

Special international flights are being operated under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under ‘Air Bubble Agreement’ with select countries from July.

So far, India has such agreements with more than 22 countries.