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United Airlines to resume service from April 1

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, Feb. 1

UNITED Airlines, which resumes its round-the world-flight from April 1, is likely to have an introductory fare, although airline officials refused to say what it will be, citing violation of US anti-trust laws.

``We are in the process of finalising our pricing and it will be competitive. However, we may not announce the promotional fare just yet,'' United's General Manager, India, Mr Michael Purchon, said.

Though the airline had withdrawn from the Indian market in April 1999 as the flight had not done too well, Mr Purchon refused to provide specifics of how United expected the resumed service to fare. ``We are very optimistic and bullish on the prospects o f the flight. Our traffic was good when we withdrew and we hope to do better now. However, we do not put down break-even load factors for our flights,'' he said.

United Airlines officials said that they expected their pricing to be under more competitive pressure on the flight going West rather than on the flights to East. The airline is to operate two flights a day from Delhi -- one connecting London and onwards to the US; the other connecting Hong Kong and onwards to the US.

Meanwhile, United is in the process of finalising a number of promotional activities including the launch of an advertisement campaign from the third week of February.

Mr Purchon said though the immediate task of the airline was to get the resumed service up and running, it was keen to operate to Mumbai and Chennai. ``We hope to start services within the next few years although both the flights to both the cities will not be commenced together,'' Mr Purchon said.

United, which recently announced that it was reconfiguring its fleet of three-cabin international aircraft to create an `economy plus' product that provides traveller and its most loyal customers more legroom, will be available to the customer from Indi a from April 1. Officials said that the reconfiguration of aircraft serving India commenced in January and will be completed by September.

Officials said that advance assignment of the economy plus seating which provides an additional five inches of seating area, will be available on a first-come first-served basis to United Airlines' Mileage plus members who travel 25,000 paid miles on Uni ted or Star Alliance carriers, or 30 or more segments in one calendar year. Besides, customers who are travelling on a full fare economy class ticket can also receive a pre-assigned seat in this section.

Pic.: Mr Michael Purchon, General Manager, United Airlines, India, at a press conference in New Delhi on Thursday.

Picture by Ramesh Sharma