Gulf Daily News
Bahrain, May 21: AIR India Express, the low-cost version and a subsidiary of Air India, has expanded its services from Bahrain, with a third flight to Mangalore each week, on Thursdays.
This is in response to growing demand on the Mangalore sector especially from the region of Karnataka and part of Kerala, said Air India manager for Bahrain and Jordan D Debesh.
"The timing of this flight will be of convenience to all our passengers as the departure would be at 7.25am," he told the GDN.
"The flight arrives in Mangalore at 3.45pm. This flight originates from Mumbai at 5.30am and arrives in Bahrain at 6.20am on its onward flight to Mangalore.
"Since the departures and arrivals are daytime, passengers who are connecting for interior points of Karnataka/Kerala will be immensely benefited."
Similarly on the return sector, the flight from Mangalore would be departing at 4.30pm and arriving Bahrain at 6pm. The same flight departs at 6.45pm from Bahrain on its way to Mumbai via Doha and arrives Mumbai at 2am.
The new frequency to Mangalore is in addition to the Sunday and Tuesday frequencies. The Mumbai/Bahrain/Mumbai flights of Saturday have been cancelled with effect from last Saturday.
As per the new schedule, there will be four flights a week to Cochin, three each to Mumbai, Mangalore and Calicut and one to Trivandrum.
"The new services attract more Indian passengers, as the fares are at least 20pc cheaper than the normal fares of Air India," said Debesh.
Air India's normal services were replaced by Air India Express with effect from March 25 this year.
"We hope to do the best with the support of the travelling public, travel agencies, Civil Aviation Affairs and Bahrain Airport Services," said Mr Debesh.
Air India operated A310s on its Bahrain sector, which are now being replaced by Air India Express' Boeing 737-800.
"While the A310 has a capacity of 22 seats on the J-class and 180 on the economy class, the 737 will offer 170 seats - all on the economy class," said Debesh. He claimed Air India's acquisition of 68 state-of-the-art aircraft would position the airline among the best in the world.
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