The Hindu Business Line : A traditional welcome

IT was a combination of tradition and modernity which greeted the more than 100 passengers travelling on the inaugural flight of Jet Airways on the Delhi-Kathmandu sector at the Indira Gandhi International airport in the Capital on Friday.

Almost the entire top brass of the airline, including the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Peter Luethi, Executive Vice-President, Lt. General I.K. Varma, and the airlines staff were present at the airport for the puja that was conducted before the launch of the flight.

The airline executives and several others then moved towards the aero bridge which connected to the modern next generation Boeing 737-800 aircraft which was to take them and other passengers on the one-hour thirty minute flight to Kathmandu.

As the aircraft taxied to a halt at the Thribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, not only were the traditional Nepalese Shenai's playing to welcome the visitors but also children in colourful dresses were performing traditional Nepalese dances.

It was also the time for staff of the airline to have their photographs clicked next to the aircraft with banners stating that the airline had started flights between India and Nepal with the CEO, COO and other senior executives who had travelled with them.

Passengers were garlanded and offered the traditional Buddhist Khada, a scarf offered out of respect.

Incidentally, the festivity translated into curiosity for many of the passengers waiting in the arrival hall.