After a 15-month delay and getting stuck in a security probe, the country's top private airline Jet Airways will launch its long-planned maiden flight to the US by July-August this year.
The Mumbai-Brussels-Newark flight was slotted for takeoff on August 15 but efforts are now being made to advance the launch date, highly-placed sources in the airline told PTI here today.
Jet's American operations was originally scheduled in October 2005 but it got stalled follwing an inquiry by US Department of Transportation. The probe was carried out after an American company, also named Jet, alleged that its Indian namesake had underworld links.
The charges were investigated and subsequently found to be untrue. Jet was later given security clearance by Home Ministry last year.
The flight, to be operated by a Boeing-777 aircraft with a three-class configuration, may have an inaugural offer for an economy class return ticket at Rs 45,000 plus taxes.
Jet Airways also announced making Ahmedabad the fourth Indian city in its network to have direct flights to London's Heathrow airport from April 3.
Sources said the Ahmedabad-London-Heathrow flight would be launched on April three as a twice-a-week service, but the frequency would be increased to thrice-a-week from May one. It already operates to London from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar.
The initial economy return fare on the Ahmedabad-London sector would be Rs 22,000 plus taxes only, the sources said, adding this inaugural fare was likely to be valid for a month.
Courtesy : Expressindia.com
The Mumbai-Brussels-Newark flight was slotted for takeoff on August 15 but efforts are now being made to advance the launch date, highly-placed sources in the airline told PTI here today.
Jet's American operations was originally scheduled in October 2005 but it got stalled follwing an inquiry by US Department of Transportation. The probe was carried out after an American company, also named Jet, alleged that its Indian namesake had underworld links.
The charges were investigated and subsequently found to be untrue. Jet was later given security clearance by Home Ministry last year.
The flight, to be operated by a Boeing-777 aircraft with a three-class configuration, may have an inaugural offer for an economy class return ticket at Rs 45,000 plus taxes.
Jet Airways also announced making Ahmedabad the fourth Indian city in its network to have direct flights to London's Heathrow airport from April 3.
Sources said the Ahmedabad-London-Heathrow flight would be launched on April three as a twice-a-week service, but the frequency would be increased to thrice-a-week from May one. It already operates to London from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar.
The initial economy return fare on the Ahmedabad-London sector would be Rs 22,000 plus taxes only, the sources said, adding this inaugural fare was likely to be valid for a month.
Courtesy : Expressindia.com