Date:08/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/08/stories/2009010858670300.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Two more AIE flights to Doha, Bahrain

Staff Reporter

Services to begin on January 23

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Air India Express (AIE), the low-cost carrier of NACIL, will operate two more flights from the Thiruvananthapuram international airport to Doha and Bahrain from January 23.

The flights to be operated on Fridays and Saturdays will be in addition to the existing flight to the sector on Mondays. With the introduction of these flights, the total number of weekly international flights operated by AIE from Thiruvananthapuram will go up to 22.

The flight will take off from Thiruvananthapuram to Doha via Bahrain at 8.30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays to arrive at Bahrain at 10.35 p.m. local time and Doha at 12.05 midnight the next day. The return flight will reach Thiruvananthapuram airport at 7.30 a.m. the next day.

Air India Station Manager H. A. Munaff said Air India Express has also announced cheaper fares from Thiruvananthapuram to Bahrain and Doha.

The fares available are from Rs.3,000 plus taxes.

The cheapest all-inclusive fare in the sector will be Rs. 6,535.

Kochi sector

The increase in frequency of flights from the capital to Doha and Bahrain will also increase the number of AIE flights between Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi, he said.

On Fridays and Saturdays, flight IX 457 will leave Kochi at 6.45 p.m. to reach Thiruvananthapuram airport at 7.25 p.m.

On Saturdays and Sundays, flight IX 458 will leave Thiruvananthapuram airport at 8.15 a.m. to reach Kochi at 8.55 a.m.