Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

AI may extend New York flight to south

Thiruvananthapuram: Air India (AI) is considering extension of the prestigious non-stop daily flight from Mumbai to JFK airport in New York to south to ensure adequate load in the economy class.

The proposal has been mooted as the 195 seats in the maiden 777-200 LR (Long Range) aircraft deployed by the national carrier for the flight in the Mumbai-New York sector is going almost empty.

Airline sources said the move was to link the non-stop flight with one of the airports in the southern States to ensure adequate load. Bangalore along with Kochi is being actively considered by the airline as it will ensure direct connectivity to New York.

The proposal has been mooted as the response from the travellers to the gesture shown by the national carrier to reduce the two-way economy fare from the domestic points for the flight had not been encouraging. The two-way economy fare in the Mumbai-New York sector was reduced from Rs.80,000 to Rs.34,000.

Airline sources said the fares had again been reduced to Rs.32,900 from the first week of December. Of course, the traveller will have to pay a tax of Rs.15,770 in addition to the fare. Airline sources said the demand for the non-stop flight was picking up.

As part of marketing the flight to New York, the airline is already offering through baggage check-in facility and international boarding pass for the non-stop flight from several airports.

Travel trade sources said the airline should either extend the New York flight to Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram airports or introduce a connecting flight in the evening linking the two airports to end the undue waiting in Mumbai airport of those opting through baggage check-in facility from the domestic points in the country.

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