The Hindu Business Line : Fly Mumbai-Tokyo in `business class' jet

Money-spinner
Officials of competing international airlines feel that the launch of the ANA all-business class flight could prove a money-spinner for the airline.

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New Delhi Feb. 4 Air travellers between Mumbai and Tokyo are in for a treat soon with the Japanese carrier All Nippon Airways (ANA) all set to become the first international airline to operate a purely business class aircraft to India on a commercial basis.

Starting September, ANA's BusinessJet will operate a daily flight between Tokyo and Mumbai offering only 36 business class seats.

A normally configured Boeing 737-700 aircraft can carry up to 126 passengers.

The aircraft being used on the India route will be specially configured to give business-class comfort and luxury and is the second Boeing 737-700 Extended Range (ER) aircraft acquired by the airline.

Each of the seats will not only have in-seat power, but also entertainment in the form of audio-video on demand and portable media players with noise-cancelling headphones. Other luxury items will include full-size pillows and high-end personal items.

At present, most international airlines operating to India offer two to three class configuration. Apart from the economy class, passengers can opt for a seat in either the first class or business class.

This, however, will be the first time that an airline is launching a purely business class flight to India although the concept exists in others parts of the world. In the UK, Eos Airlines operates a Boeing 757 aircraft offering just 48 business class seats on regular flights between Stanstead airport (London) and New York.

``It may be difficult for an airline flying between India and Japan to fill an entire 200-300 seater aircraft on a daily basis. But you take the premium class cabin on any flight going to the Far East that offers connections to Japan and you will notice that it is almost always full. The new service will provide an alternative to the business community,'' an official from a competing airline said.