The Hindu Business Line : Continental Airlines begins direct flight to Mumbai

Non-stop from Mumbai: (From left) Mr Jeffery Smisek, President, Continental Airlines; Mr Laurent Recoura, Senior Director (India); and Mr Jim Summerford, Vice-President, Europe, Middle East & India; at a press conference in Mumbai on Wednesday. —

Our Bureau

Mumbai, Oct. 3 Buoyant on Mumbai-US sector, Continental Airlines has received 25 per cent to 30 per cent more bookings and expects the trend to continue on its newly launched flights between Mumbai and New York as compared to its existing Delhi to New York service.

Senior Country Director-India of Continental Airlines, Mr Laurent Recoura, told newspersons on sidelines of a press conference, “Given the sheer expanse of this sector and demand in Mumbai, the bookings have been 25 per cent to 30 per cent more from Delhi-New York.” The airline launched its Delhi flight in 2005.

introductory prices

To begin with, the airline is offering attractive introductory prices such as Rs 36,000 return fare exclusive of taxes, which would be around Rs 10,000 more, added Mr Recoura. While the lowest business class ticket would cost Rs 1.6 lakh, higher end business tickets would be around Rs 3.9 lakh.

As to how long would the prices continue? He said it would depend on the way the competition goes on the Mumbai-New York segment. Air India already operates a daily non-stop flight to New York from Mumbai and Jet Airways is flying daily to Newark via Brussels.

The inaugural flight of Continental from Mumbai that commenced from October 2 will be a non-stop service and would initially operate four times a week, on Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.

May add more routes

Dow Jones reports

Continental said it may add more routes to major Indian cities in two years’ time to cater to growing demand for travel between India and the US. “We expect to get delivery of our first batch of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2009, and that will open up a huge market for long-distance travel — especially to India, South-East Asia, Australia and China,” Mr Smisek, said. “We will then look at adding more destinations in India.”

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