The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : AIE to introduce business class

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 01, 2007
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Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

AIE to introduce business class

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Thiruvananthapuram : Air-India Express (AIE), the no-frills airline of Air-India, that has gained popularity among the middle class Non-Resident Indians travelling to the Gulf countries, will soon introduce business class in select flights.

At present, all the 181 seats in the Boeing 737-800 aircraft in the fleet of AIE have only budget class. "We would soon introduce business class in five to six B 737-800 aircraft to take care of the needs of those wishing to fly in the executive class", Chairman and Managing Director of Air-India V. Thulasidas told The Hindu.

The AI official said the modalities were being worked out. The decision was expected to come in handy when the national carrier opted to operate only AIE flights from some airports in the country to destinations in the Gulf countries. The no-frills airline would be able to attract business class people and could prevent business people from flocking to Gulf-based airlines.

The national carrier also decided to commence cargo flights on its own for the first time in the history of the airline. Two A-310 aircraft had already been sent to Germany for converting them into cargo flights. "We hope to complete the revamp of aircraft in the next four months", he said. Mr. Thulasidas said the freighter flights would lift all kinds of cargo and would be introduced in the Indo-Europe, Indo-Japan and Indo-China route where cargo was available in both the routes.

To a query, he said the airline had no plans at present to introduce cargo flights from the three airports in Kerala to the Middle East, as the aircraft would have to return empty from the Gulf countries. The shortage of pilots faced by the airline was solved through recruitment of foreign pilots and internal recruitment. Over 50-60 foreign pilots were with AI and they were provided the same salary and perks.

The process to recruit engineering and science graduates from the campuses and to train them as pilots had commenced. He said those selected would be sent abroad for training and the expenses would be borne by them.The Rs.35,000-crore fleet acquisition for AI and AIE was on schedule and already four B 737-800 had been received. Six Airbus aircraft, including four whose lease period was ending, would leave the national carrier this year, Mr. Thulasidas said.

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