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Competition is sizzling in Bahrain skies as India's domestic market leader and premier airline, Jet Airways, began its daily non-stop flights from the kingdom this week to two highly popular destinations in India, Mumbai and Kochi.
While time will only tell whether this represents a direct challenge to the loyal passengers of Gulf Air - formerly the only carrier from Bahrain to fly directly to India - it certainly is a huge opportunity for the airline and the 240,000 Indian residents of Bahrain.
The general opinion seems to be that the arrival of India's most successful private airline is an acknowledgement of the growing traffic in this sector, which is attributed to the current economic boom in India and the Gulf as well as the growth of the sub-continent as a leading leisure destination. It is also a bonus for travellers to be offered several options to fly to various Indian destinations.
Jet Airways, well-known for its top class service delivery and modern fleet, made its maiden flight to Mumbai, the financial capital of the country and Kochi, in Kerala.
Laying emphasis on its cornerstones of service and reliability, the airline is offering its strength of a strong domestic network and ability to connect every traveller from Bahrain to India and rest of the world.
Shakir Kantawala, regional manager, sales and marketing for the Middle East and North Africa, promised: "We are like the spirit of new India - young, smart, dynamic, efficient, punctual and dependable. We aim to take you on time consistently every day throughout the year.
"We are looking at the Bahraini who needs to travel the world and not just an Indian going home. With 350 daily flights across 55 destinations in the world, 45 of which are in India, we have the world open for you.
"The flights from Bahrain have been scheduled in such a manner that the entire domestic network opens up for a passenger arriving in Mumbai in the early morning hours. Our Cochin flights arrive before nightfall and you can reach home for dinner with your family anywhere in Kerala."
International destinations include flights to Colombo, Kathmandu, Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Brussels, London, New York and Toronto. It also has an arrangement with Qantas, Brussels Airlines and American Airlines.
Jet Airways has earned a reputation for excellent customer service in India. Mr Kantawala said: "The focus of our airline has since inception always been on service delivery to our customers. We believe that while efficiency comes from training, warmth comes from the heart.
"Even on a one-hour flight from Mumbai to Goa or Ahmedabad, we serve a hot meal. And our service does not begin in-flight, it starts from the time you buy a ticket.
"For example in India we offer several types of check-ins to enable our passengers to board our flights without delays. We began our operation in 1993 with four aircrafts. Today, the number has gone up to 74 and we have flown 80 million passengers till date."
The airline will be flying Boeing 737-800 aircraft that will offer six club premier and 124 economy seats on the Bahrain-India routes. The fleet of Jet Airways is said to be one of the world's youngest with an average age of 4.7 years.
It helps in the fuel efficiency and technical reliability of the aircraft said Mr Kantawala. He added that his company has twice won Boeing's award for 99.6 per cent technical dispatch reliability, which is an evidence of the airlines on-time performance reliability.
Jet Airways has also been the recipient of the Freddie award known as the Oscars of frequent guest and frequent flyer programmes from around the world, three times in a row. This year they were conferred with the highly-coveted category of "programme of the year" for Japan, Australia, Asia and Pacific regions.
In Bahrain, Jet Airways is represented by Al Fanar Travels located in Manama. Online bookings can be done on www.jetairways .com
INAUGURAL OFFERS
Return fares excluding taxes
Bahrain-Mumbai:
Individual club premier starts at BD240
Individual economy starts at BD120
Bahrain-Kochi:
Individual club premier starts at BD260
Individual economy starts at BD120
Special offer to return adult travellers with companion to both destinations:
Club premier BD360
Economy BD200
Luggage allowance per passenger
Business: 40kg
Economy: 30kg
Contact Jet Airways on 17227114 for more information.
