Jet Airways starts daily flights to Mumbai and New Delhi from Dubai

Jet Airways starts daily flights to Mumbai and New Delhi from Dubai
By Jose Franco By a staff reporter - KHALEEJ TIMES 18 August 2008

DUBAI - Jet Airways will start daily flights from Dubai to Mumbai and New Delhi on Saturday, as the Indian airline has embarked on a major expansion plan that includes Dh13.59 billion ($3.7 billion) worth of investment in new aircraft.

The company's chairman, Naresh Goyal, on Sunday said Dubai is Jet Airways' second destination in the UAE after Abu Dhabi and the sixth in its Gulf network.

'Dubai is extremely important to us, and we don't want to be left out,' he said in a media briefing.

He added that flights to Saudi Arabia would also begin in October, the same month that his company is to realise a partnership agreement with Emirates Airline to have a bigger market share of the regional market.

Jet Airways has also begun operations on the India-Gulf routes to Kuwait, Bahrain, Doha and Muscat. It also plans to its Brussels hub to connect more cities in India such as Bangalore, Ahmadabad, Chennai and Hyderabad to North America, particularly Los Angeles, Chicago and Vancouver.

In a statement early this month, Goyal announced the deliveries for the first of the 20-wide body aircraft in July. Valued at Dh7.71 billion ($2.1 billion), the order is composed of 10 Boeing B777-300ER and 10 Airbus A330-200.

Jet Airways also holds options for additional aircraft from both companies, and has recently signed a purchase agreement for 10 Boeing B787 Dreamliner aircraft with deliveries starting 2011 and valued at Dh5.88 billion ($1.6 billion).

'In all, Jet Airways will invest $3.7 billion in new aircraft pursuing an aggressive growth strategy,' the statement said.

Gaurang Shetty, the company's senior vice-president for alliance and interline distribution, said higher revenues are expected due to massive growth and expansion programme. Last year's turnover reached Dh7.86 billion ($2.14 billion).

He said the airline management has two airways including the budget carrier LetLite, which Jet Airways bought last year, bringing to 109 its current number of aircraft offering 526 flights daily to customers.