The country's only full business class airline, Paramount Airways, is seriously evaluating plans to launch international services in two years and has begun talks with aircraft manufacturers to acquire long-range aircraft.
The Coimbatore-based airline had also held discussions with several major international airport operators who were trying to woo the carrier to begin operations from their respective airports.
"We will fly international...but at the right time. We are weighing all options," Paramount Airways Managing Director M Thiagarajan told PTI here, but refused to divulge any further details about the company's plans to fly abroad.
According to its current plans, Paramount plans to launch international services by 2010-11 by when it would have met the legal requirement of having a fleet size of 20 aircraft and five years of flying domestic.
Asked which foreign sectors would it prefer to launch operations, he said the airline was studying the situation, but the major markets like the US, Europe, Middle East and Southeast Asia would be covered.
He said talks were also on with major aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, for acquisition of long-range planes. Several international airport operators also held discussion with the airline, he said without identifying them.
Announcing that the airline would make an operational hub in Kolkata, Thiagarajan said the airline's plans to grow out of the Southern region will now fructify with the launch of daily flights from Chennai to Kolkata and further to Guwahati and Agartala from Monday.
The flights would promote business traffic as well as a large number of passengers who visit South India for hospitalisation and medicare.
He said he had held discussions with West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee who had promised his government's support to the airline in Kolkata for starting operations to the Northeast and Eastern India. "We have made a beginning now and we will expand from Kolkata."
"We never intended to remain regional but wanted to dominate the (Southern) region first before moving out," he said, adding that the airline would expand to North and West India in the near future.
Regarding the fleet acquisition plans of the three-year old carrier, Mr. Thiagarajan said Paramount would have an additional 20 aircraft by the end of 2010 when all deliveries of Embraer E-170 jets would have come to an end.
To questions on its cargo operations, Mr. Thiagarajan said the business to ferry high value and premium cargo was growing steadily.
With Chennai as its hub, Paramount was optimising the belly space of its aircraft to operate inbound and outbound flights throughout its route network.
A large chunk of its premier cargo comprised perishable commodities like floriculture, aquaculture, livestock, besides other materials like electrical components and medical cargo.
It also has a dedicated warehouse to meet the growing business.
Source://hindu.com
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Emirates takes you on a journey through India
Emirates is advancing its service on Indian routes with the launch of its unique “Journey Through India” campaign.
Focussing on three crucial elements – inflight food and beverage; inflight product; and cabin crew management – the programme seeks to ensure the airline exceeds the expectations of its Indian passengers through regionalisation of the product on Indian routes.
Initiatives under the “Journey Through India” campaign are featuring on Emirates flights to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram.
The menu on all routes and in all classes has been created to meet the regional preferences of Indian travellers. In addition it has been strengthened with a greater presence of Indian dishes, especially vegetarian options, while western dishes continue to be offered to cater to the global tastes of travellers.
In all classes, route specific mini savouries prior to meal service and after meal Indian digestives have been introduced. Advancements in the First and Business class menu include a choice of three hors d’oeuvres with Indian options.
In Economy class a bar service has been introduced prior to the meal, which in itself has been boosted with a choice of two Indian and one Western dish. All passengers are served a welcome drink.
Inflight entertainment has also been regionalised and now offers route specific boarding music and reading material. Emirates’ patented and award-winning ice (Information, Communication and Entertainment) system that offers over 600 channels of entertainment is now offered on more Indian routes than previously.
Cabin crew are an integral part of the Emirates’ experience and the Dubai-based airline has embarked on a massive internal communications programme to improve its crew’s awareness of “Destination India”. Over 10,000 of Emirates multi-cultural crew are improving their knowledge of India through route-specific booklets, online training courses and briefings prior to each flight.
Terry Daly, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president, Service Delivery, noted: “India is a diverse and large country that boasts several languages, customs, and cuisines. As we expand our services to and from India, it is equally important that we enhance the quality of our service by adapting it to regional preferences.”
From Malta, Emirates operates daily flights to Dubai with a stopover in Larnaca, Cyprus.
Source://independent.com.mt
Focussing on three crucial elements – inflight food and beverage; inflight product; and cabin crew management – the programme seeks to ensure the airline exceeds the expectations of its Indian passengers through regionalisation of the product on Indian routes.
Initiatives under the “Journey Through India” campaign are featuring on Emirates flights to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram.
The menu on all routes and in all classes has been created to meet the regional preferences of Indian travellers. In addition it has been strengthened with a greater presence of Indian dishes, especially vegetarian options, while western dishes continue to be offered to cater to the global tastes of travellers.
In all classes, route specific mini savouries prior to meal service and after meal Indian digestives have been introduced. Advancements in the First and Business class menu include a choice of three hors d’oeuvres with Indian options.
In Economy class a bar service has been introduced prior to the meal, which in itself has been boosted with a choice of two Indian and one Western dish. All passengers are served a welcome drink.
Inflight entertainment has also been regionalised and now offers route specific boarding music and reading material. Emirates’ patented and award-winning ice (Information, Communication and Entertainment) system that offers over 600 channels of entertainment is now offered on more Indian routes than previously.
Cabin crew are an integral part of the Emirates’ experience and the Dubai-based airline has embarked on a massive internal communications programme to improve its crew’s awareness of “Destination India”. Over 10,000 of Emirates multi-cultural crew are improving their knowledge of India through route-specific booklets, online training courses and briefings prior to each flight.
Terry Daly, Emirates’ divisional senior vice-president, Service Delivery, noted: “India is a diverse and large country that boasts several languages, customs, and cuisines. As we expand our services to and from India, it is equally important that we enhance the quality of our service by adapting it to regional preferences.”
From Malta, Emirates operates daily flights to Dubai with a stopover in Larnaca, Cyprus.
Source://independent.com.mt
Monday, April 6, 2009
Jet to launch flights to Chennai
Jet Airways, an Indian carrier, will launch daily direct flights between Chennai and Dubai this month, the airline announced yesterday (April 5).
The service, which starts on April 23, will be carried out using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Flights will depart Dubai at 4.30 pm and arrive in Chennai at 10.15 pm.
The return journey leaves at 12.45 pm and lands in Dubai at 15.30 pm.
A special price for economy return will be available on the opening three days from April 23.
Flights with return dates on or before May 31 will cost Dh860 ($234) including taxes for economy, while the price for premiere tickets will be Dh1,360 ($370).
Source:tradearabia.com
The service, which starts on April 23, will be carried out using a Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Flights will depart Dubai at 4.30 pm and arrive in Chennai at 10.15 pm.
The return journey leaves at 12.45 pm and lands in Dubai at 15.30 pm.
A special price for economy return will be available on the opening three days from April 23.
Flights with return dates on or before May 31 will cost Dh860 ($234) including taxes for economy, while the price for premiere tickets will be Dh1,360 ($370).
Source:tradearabia.com
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