The Hindu Business Line : Non-stop Gulf flights from Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb. 17 Budget airline Air India Express has announced the launch of non-stop flights from Thiruvananthapuram to destinations in West Asia.

Non-stop flights on the Thiruvananthapuram-Gulf sector will start on Monday when the airline’s summer schedule comes into effect, said Mr H. A. Munaff, Manager-Thiruvananthapuram, Air India.

Earlier, Thiruvananthapuram was a transit point for the airline’s Gulf flights, which used to originate from either Kozhikode or Kochi, he explained.

However, in the airline’s summer schedule, Thiruvananthapuram has been delinked from Kochi and Kozhikode, he added.

With the launch of non-stop flights, the number of seats the airline offers on the Thiruvananthapuram-Gulf sector has increased by 56 per cent from 1,530 seats a week to 2,395 seats.

Though the number of international flights from Thiruvananthapuram has decreased from 17 to 15 per week, the number of seats the airline offers has gone up substantially, Mr Munaff said. In its summer schedule, Air India Express will operate flights from Thiruvananthapuram to destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Bahrain, Muscat and Sharjah.

The introduction of the non-stop flights will help passengers save up to two hours of flying time, he said.

The airline will also operate five domestic flights from Thiruvananthapuram every week, including one to Mumbai and two each to Kochi and Kozhikode.

Air India Express is also looking at starting flights from Kerala to Kuwait and Dammam in Saudi Arabia, Mr Munaff said. In the airline’s summer schedule, the total number of flights per week from Kerala to destinations in West Asia will go up from 64 to 76.

Meanwhile, construction work on the Air India engineering and maintenance base in Thiruvananthapuram will be inaugurated on March 1, Mr Munaff said. Work on the first phase of the facility, which is intended for Boeing 737-800 aircraft, will be completed in one year, he added.

More Stories on : Airlines | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Tata group co ties up with Israel Aerospace

Non-stop Gulf flights from Thiruvananthapuram

European Naval Defence System sets up Indian arm

Gunny bags movement down

Bharati Shipyard to launch drydock

IMO’s tough air pollution rules

Seafarers to rejoice on wage revision

Mega merger in offing

‘Science Express’ arrives in Vizag

Mangalore: Big potential for tourism growth