As India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) gear up to take the next quantum leap in bi-lateral relations with the signing of a free trade agreement, Emirates Airline, has unveiled plans to…
As India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) gear up to take the next quantum leap in bi-lateral relations with the signing of a free trade agreement, Emirates Airline, has unveiled plans to implement significant capacity enhancements to Mumbai, Chennai, Cochin, and Hyderabad.
In a major strengthening of its India operations, Emirates will introduce a third-daily service to Mumbai and a double-daily operation to Chennai starting 28th October 2007. The airline will also add three additional flights each to Cochin and Hyderabad over the summer and winter seasons.
In all, the Dubai-based airline will ramp up its India capacity from the current 71 to 85 passenger flights per week to eight Indian gateways.
Mumbai – Emirates will introduce the larger-capacity Boeing 777 aircraft on its existing 19-flights-per-week Mumbai service, and will add two additional frequencies, bringing the total number of flights to 21-per-week or triple-daily.
Chennai – Emirates` Dubai-Chennai service will be progressively stepped up from eight to 11 flights per week by 1st August; and propelled further to a double-daily service with the induction of three additional frequencies on 28th October. At the start of the winter season, the airline`s operations to Chennai will total 14 flights per week.
Cochin – Further reinforcing its footprint in the economically-robust South India, Emirates will operate two additional weekly flights to Cochin with immediate effect, and introduce a third extra flight on 1st August, taking its total operations to 10 weekly flights.
Hyderabad – Effective 28th October, links between Dubai and Hyderabad, the capital city of the state of Andhra Pradesh, will also be boosted with three additional frequencies, bringing Emirates` weekly total to 11 flights.
Nabil Sultan, Emirates` Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean noted: Asia`s fastest growing free market economy, India, is expanding its links with the GCC and forging ahead with joint, multi-billion dollar projects in tourism, commerce and infrastructure. Having fuelled strong economic and trade ties between the Middle East and India since the start of its services in 1985, Emirates is well-poised to support India`s blistering growth in the 21st century with its efficient, reliable and increased air links.
He added: Customer demand for our services has been steadily building up and we are very pleased to offer greater capacity through frequency increases and aircraft upgrades. With the introduction of the third- and second-daily services to Mumbai and Chennai respectively, our schedules will be more consistent and our passengers will have greater flexibility in planning their journeys.
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