Airline Code [AXB]
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Air India Express confirmed plans to operate 11 non-stop services from Thiruvananthapuram, located in the state of Kerala, to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, effective 18-Feb-08.
The carrier reports the new non-stop service will save passengers up to two hours traveling time. The services previously operated via Kochi/Kozhikode.
With the launch of the new services, the number of seats Air India Express offers on the Thiruvananthapuram-Gulf sector has increased 56%, from 1,530 to 2,395 seats per week.
Meanwhile, the carrier previously announced plans to increase frequency from points in Kerala State to Bahrain from ten to 13 per week, effective 19-Feb-08.
Air India Express is also reportedly considering launching services from the State of Kerala to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia (Damman).
HA Munaf, Chief of Air India operations in Thiruvananthapuram, states Air India Express is prepared to face any upcoming competition between Kerala and the Gulf as market access between the two liberalises. According to media reports, he stated that, "we are quite confident that we will be able to handle any sort of competition simply because our fares are one of the cheapest. Since the commencement of Air India operations nearly three years back, we are having a load factor of 90%".
Air India Express launched operations in Apr-05, and currently has a fleet of 17 B737-800s, of which seven are leased. All aircraft have single class configuration to handle up to 189 passengers.
Air India Express operates to 12 international destinations including Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Salalah, Singapore, Bahrain, Doha, and Columbo - from ten Indian cities: Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthpuram, Mumbai, Nagpur, Delhi, Amritsar, Chennai, Mangalore and Tiruchirapally. Domestically, the carrier operates Mumbai-Kochi, Mumbai-Kozhikode, Mumbai-Delhi, Mumbai-Chennai, Delhi-Amritsar, Kozhikode-Kochi, Kozhikode Thiruvananthpuram and Kochi-Thiruvananthpuram services.
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 18-Feb-08 |
Air India Express to increase frequencies between Thiruvananthapuram and the Gulf 
