Air India Express announces change in schedule of Mangalore - Doha flights

Due to a long standing demand from Indian expatriate community to improve the timings of both Mumbai and Mangalore flights from Doha, Air India Express has announced changes in schedule of its flights between Mumbai- Doha - Mumbai and Mangalore- Doha -Mangalore flights effective 12th January 2009.

Both of these destinations were being served with a single aircraft and therefore, there were too many constraints. With the latest addition of B737-800 aircraft to its fleet, Air India Express has de-linked the Mumbai and Mangalore flights.

According to the press release from AIE in Doha, effective 12th January, 2009, the three Mangalore flights will operate on WED/FRI/SUN instead of TUE/THU/SAT with a departure from Mangalore at 10 O clock in the morning and arrive into Doha at 1150 hrs. The departure will be at noon 1235 hrs and will arrive into Mangalore at 2020 hrs. (Local Time) or 0820 pm ex Doha.

The Mumbai flights operating on TUE/THU/SAT will depart Mumbai in the afternoon at 1320 hrs (0120 pm) and will depart from Doha 1745 hrs ( 0545 pm) in the evening and arrive into Mumbai at 2310 hrs (1110 pm).

This will benefit passengers traveling onward to Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Chennai, Bangaluru, Kochi & Thiruvanathapuram as it will offer connections to Air India flights from the same terminal with customs and immigration at final destination.

AIE in its press release has stated that the airline is also in the process of adding more frequencies to Thiruvananthapuram and will now operate two frequencies to Thriuvanathapuram a week on FRI/SAT in addition to the existing Monday flight. The two additional frequency will be non stop from Doha to Thiruvananthapuram.

Air India Express flights commenced from Doha in Summer 2007 and currently operating 13 frequencies - daily to Kerala , 3 times to Mumbai and Mangalore.

Source:mangalorean

UK airlines slash prices

Major British airlines have slashed airfares to India and other holiday destinations to attract customers who have largely preferred to spend Christmas and New year holidays at home due to the economic downturn.

Major airports such as London, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow have reported a sharp fall in the number of people going abroad for holidays during the Christmas-New Year season.

To attract customers, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have slashed prices by up to 25 per cent to their lowest levels since the 1980s. These include tickets to New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.

Prices of tickets to India have dropped significantly following last month's terror attacks in Mumbai. BA has cut prices to Delhi by 121 pound to 359 pound, to Mumbai by 91 pound to 329 pound and to Kolkata by 71 pound to 359 pound.

Both BA and Virgin sought to outdo each other on competing routes, while others such as Lufthansa and Emirates are also cutting prices amidst fears that the economic downturn will lead to plummeting ticket sales.

British Airways and Virgin have already cut its fuel surcharge by a third last week. BA announced its sale with flights to more than 75 destinations coming down in price. A return flight from London to New York is now just 259 pound.

Virgin Atlantic's offers include Dubai from 298 pound, Los Angeles from 338 pound, Delhi from 359 pound, Mumbai from 329 pound, Orlando in Florida from 308 pound and Chicago from 288 pound.

Source:hindu

Jet and Emirates get closer

India's Jet Airways and Emirates Airline have inked a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement and unilateral code share agreement.

Effective December 15, 2008, the two airlines will launch a reciprocal frequent flyer arrangement with the exception of flights between India and Dubai.

The same day, Emirates will also commence a unilateral code share on Jet Airways' daily flights from Mumbai and New Delhi to and from Dubai.

Source:impactpub

Airlines cut fares on domestic routes up to Rs. 400 per ticket

Major airlines including Kingfisher, Jet Airways, Indigo and Air India have reduced fuel surcharge on all domestic flights by Rs.400 pet ticket, following successive cuts in Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices by oil marketing companies.

The country's second biggest carrier Kingfisher Airlines and IndiGo on Saturday reduced fuel surcharge by Rs.400 per ticket.

Travel by Kingfisher Red (formerly Air Deccan) will cost Rs 1,950 for distances up to 750 km, Rs 300 less than the Rs 2,250 earlier. Distances over 750 km will cost Rs 2,700, Rs 200 less than the Rs 2,900 earlier.

For the full-service carrier, Kingfisher, flights up to 750 km will cost Rs 1,950, Rs 400 less than the Rs 2,350 earlier. Fares for traveling more than 750 km will be down to Rs 2,700 from Rs 3,100. Earlier, Jet Airways, JetLite and Air India took similar cuts.

The reduction in fuel surcharge is expected to stimulate domestic air travel market, which has been reporting sluggish growth in traffic for the past few months. ATF prices account for about 45% of an airline's operating costs and has seen a price drop of nearly 50% since August.

Source:rttnews