Date:20/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/05/20/stories/2005052001720700.htm

Back Jet Air plans flights to India from UK's secondary airports

Ashwini Phadnis

London , May 19

JET Airways will soon explore possibilities of starting flights to India from more airports in the UK. The move comes even as the airline's first daily non-stop flight on the Mumbai-Heathrow route prepares for its inaugural run on May 23.

"At the moment we are focussed on launch of the new daily non-stop flight between Mumbai and Heathrow. But after that we will launch a study to see the potential of starting flights to India from other airports here," the airline's Vice-President, International Sales, Ms Anita Goyal, told a group of visiting media persons.

The airline plans to examine the feasibility of launching flights to India from secondary airports such as Birmingham, Manchester and Gatwick among others, the airline's General Manager, UK and Ireland, Mr Dan Brewin, added.

At present, Air India is the only Indian carrier to offer direct flights from India to an airport other than Heathrow in the UK.

The State-owned airline launched a three-times a week flight on the Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto sector earlier this week.

Besides, the private sector airline has also approached the Indian Government for permission to operate twice-a-day to the UK apart from launching daily flights from Delhi to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong.

While Jet is to offer a two-class product with seats in business and economy class for the moment, a first class cabin will be eventually be introduced. "The airline will offer a first class cabin also. It will not happen immediately," Mr Brewin said.

The airline is also in talks with the US airline, United, for a tie-up to handle passengers travelling onwards to the US.

However, the proposed tie-up still has to be cleared by the authorities of the UK, the US and India.

The airline is to promote the soon-to-be-launched flight through a number of avenues including the Web and on popular travel related sites such as Expedia and Travelocity.

"We would like to further promote tourism into India. There is already a lot of interest in the UK market for going to places in south and eastern parts of India," Ms Goyal added.