Air Arabia starts Kochi flights

BY A CORRESPONDENT
May 3, 2006

UAE-based budget national carrier Air Arabia landed at Cochin Airport this Monday, commencing Air Arabia flights in the Sharjah-Kochi sector. The flight, which landed at 1:25 p.m., was carrying a delegation led by Air Arabia CEO Adel Ali and a delegation of senor officials from the UAE, mediapersons and other guests. In addition, the event was inaugurated by the traditional lamp lighting ceremony by chief guest and Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi, who received the delegation along with Mr V.J. Kurian, Managing Director of Cochin International Airport Ltd.

Mr Adel Ali said on the occasion, "It is a historic moment for Air Arabia to fly to Kochi, our third destination in India. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Indian government and civil aviation authorities for their support and cooperation. We look forward to developing trade and tourism between the UAE and India."

Currently, it will operate four flights a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, leaving Sharjah at 10:20 p.m. to arrive at Kochi at 3:45 a.m., and leaving Kochi at 4:30 a.m., to arrive at Sharjah at 7:10 a.m. The airline will commence full-scale operations from May 12, with daily flights, leaving Sharjah at 1 p.m. to arrive at Kochi at 6:25 p.m., and leaving Kochi at 7:10 p.m., to arrive at Sharjah at 9:50 p.m.

Emphasising that the competition brought by Air Arabia could only lead to better passenger comforts, Mr.Ravi said that the budget fares offered by the airline would be a bonus for NRI-Keralities in West Asia, who could now visit India more frequently. He also said he would take up the matter of operating services to Kozhikode as well with the Civil Aviation Ministry. In addition, he said, "Many other States are following the Kerala initiative."

Air Arabia already operates flights to two other Indian destinations, Nagpur and Mumbai, and is now looking to take its total number of services to India to 28 a week, with the addition of Jaipur as its fourth Indian destination.