Daijiworld Media Network - Dubai

Dubai, Jan 18 : In a happy news for Mangalureans, K Shyam Sundar, chief executive officer (CEO) of Air India Express on Sunday January 18 announced that starting this summer season (March 2015), Abu Dhabi and Muscat destinations will have non-stop flights from Mangaluru.

Currently, four flights a week with one stop are operating on each of these routes. The non-stop direct flights will help thousands of passengers who will heave a sigh of relief as it woud benefit them in terms of time as well as convenience.

Flights from Abu Dhabi to Mangaluru will be available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sunday, with departure at 2.20 am local time, and arrival at Mangaluru at 7.30 am. The flight from Mangaluru will depart at 11 pm local time and arrive in Abu Dhabi at 1.05 am.

Flights from Muscat will also operate on the same days as Abu Dhabi. The flight will depart at 3.30 pm local time and arrive in Mangaluru at 8.10 pm. The flight from Mangaluru will depart at 10.05 am and land in Muscat at 2.40 pm.

Shyam Sundar was speaking at a press conference at India Club on Sunday.

Shyam Sundar, who is on an official visit to Dubai to inaugurate the new, dedicated satellite office of Air India Express at Sharjah, said that the new office is aimed at enhancing service and is equipped to handle all reservations and ticketing requirements including sale of ancillary services on Air India Express. More such offices are planned to be commissioned in other places in the near future, he said.

Sharjah has an AI Express call centre which is operating from 7 am to 10 pm (06- 5970303), he added.

Online Visa facility :

Shyam Sundar also announced that AI Express is in talks with the UAE authorities to provide online visit services for UAE-bound passengers from India. The service, which is expected to be launched before March end 2015, will facilitate passengers to apply for Visa online through Air India Express website.

Current performace and future plans :

Presently AI Express operates over 100 flights per week from UAE connecting 9 cities in India. With a fleet size of 17 aircraft, AI Express has carried about 2 million passengers in the current financial year upto December 2014. It is projected that passenger carriage will touch 2.6 million by the close of fiscal year.

Shyam Sundar said that there will be an increase in the fleet from current 17 aircraft to 20 by early 2016, and five more will be added by 2016 summer schedule This will provide an opportunity for flights to operate on the new sectors as well as have additional flights in the existing sector.

During the last financial year, AI Express has made a small operational profit, but more revenue is expected during 2014-15 financial year due to decrease in fuel prices.

Melvin D'Silva, Air India's regional manager for Gulf and Middle East addressed the press conference and said that Air India and AI Express are jointly operating 300 flights per week to the Middle East region, out of which 175-180 flights are dedicated to UAE sector alone, which means AI operates more than 60% of these flights in the UAE.

Abdul Waheed of Arabian Travels, Prem Sagar, manager Air India for Dubai and Northern Emirates were also present at the press meet.