The Hindu Business Line : Emirates to fly to Bangalore from Oct

Emirates will launch eight flights a week to Bangalore, offering a total weekly capacity of 2,108 seats and 120 plus tonnes of cargo in each direction.

To Bangalore, the Dubai-based international airline will operate some of the world's most technologically advanced aircraft — the modern Airbus A330-200 and the larger capacity Boeing 777-200 — in a three class configuration, designed to offer high standards of comfort, luxury and style, according to a statement from the airline.

Bangalore will be Emirates' fifth destination in South India, the others being Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. It will also be the 86th destination on Emirates' network, which includes the start of services to nine new destinations in 2006.

Emirates made its foray in the South Indian region in 2000 when it launched services to Chennai. Expanding its presence in this region, the airline subsequently started operating to Hyderabad in 2001; Kochi in 2002; and Thiruvananthapuram in February this year.

Mr Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: "I thank the Indian Government and Ministry of Civil Aviation for opening up the Indian skies and giving international airlines such as Emirates an opportunity to commence services to a host of new destinations.

"By the end of this year, Emirates would have launched services to three new Indian cities, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kolkata and Bangalore and strengthened its presence in the country to eight cities served by 71 flights."

Emirates will promote Bangalore through its worldwide network of offices, which spans 56 countries in North America, Europe, West Asia, Africa, Indian sub-continent and Asia-Pacific.