The Hindu Business Line : Gulf-based airlines prefer Kozhikode

Close on the heels of starting the Gulf service by Jet Airways from Kozhikode, the city has emerged as a favourite destination for several Gulf-based airline companies.

Air Arabia, the low-cost carrier in the West Asia and North Africa, has commenced its non-stop service between Sharjah and Kozhikode on Tuesdays while Emirates, the Dubai-based international airline, is in the process of starting a service from Kozhikode soon.

Emirates have announced that it would launch six-weekly non-stop services to Kozhikode from July 1. The Air Arabia flights will initially operate three times a week, increasing it to six times by the end of May.

Mr Adel Ali, Board Member and CEO of Air Arabia, said that the airline currently serve 10 destinations in India — three within Kerala.

Popular destination

The company’s leadership in the regional low-cost carrier market offers passengers the most competitive fares to the most popular destinations in West Asia, North Africa and beyond, and the inaugural flight to Kozhikode on Tuesday reflects the company’s on-going commitment towards this region, he added. Air Arabia started operations to India with the launch of services to Mumbai in March 2005. The other two destinations Air Arabia serves in Kerala are Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

Direct flights

Boosting air connections between the booming Indian and Arabian Gulf economies, Kozhikode will become the third city in Kerala to be served with direct Emirates flights from Dubai, after the airline introduced services to Kochi in 2002 and Thiruvananthapuram in 2006. Kozhikode will also become Emirates’ 10th destination in India. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive Emirates Airline, said in a statement that Kerala has a long-standing trade relationship with the Arabian peninsula that extends back into history.

The non-stop air link between Dubai and Kozhikode will help increase trade opportunities, he said. “We intend to continue promoting Kerala and to bring more international tourists into the State through all our three gateways, he added. On the Dubai-Kozhikode route, Emirates will initially operate its Boeing 777-200 and Airbus A330-200 aircraft, offering over 4,000 business and economy class seats and close to 200 tonnes of cargo capacity per week in both directions.

In addition to Kozhikode, Emirates has also announced starting of services to Cape Town on March 30.

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