In a recent addition to its network of operations, Jet Airways will introduce three new routes and add more frequencies to six of its existing routes, indicating that the airline is keen on cashing in the growing demand on these routes. Commencing from 29th of October, the new route will link the IT hub of Bengaluru to Amsterdam in a non-stop connection. Also, Chennai will have a non-stop flight to the French capital, Paris. Beside these new additions, in a first, Jet Airways will also commence a direct flight between Delhi and Riyadh. The expansion is being viewed as a part of the airline’s strategy to augment its footprints, especially, in the southern part of the country, linking it to European and North American cities.
As per a leading English daily, commenting on the airline’s move, Jet’s chief commercial officer Jayaraj Shanmugam noted “Jet Airways’ network will see new introductions in Europe and the Gulf that will strengthen our commitment to provide our guests with wider choice, convenience and connectivity over our hubs in Mumbai and Delhi and onwards onto our international network, with our codeshare partners. Our new non-stop services will also help us cater to the growing international traffic from/to Bengaluru and Chennai.”
It is important to note that the airline will put in place additional frequencies on key routes in the Middle east, naming Mumbai-Riyadh, Mumbai-Kuwait, Mumbai-Doha and Delhi-Damman, beside deploying new frequencies on routes like Delhi-Heathrow and Delhi-Singapore.
Justifying the move of adding more frequencies to the UK market, the airline noted “Air travel between India and UK has shown a steady annual growth of nearly 10% over the last few years. The new flight will be Jet Airways’ third daily frequency between Mumbai and London… (it) will enable Jet to offer onward connectivity over London Heathrow to North America with codeshare partners Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic to as many as 14 destinations including Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, New York and San Francisco,” in a statement released to the media. “The airline will deploy its biggest aircraft – Boeing 777-300ER with a three-class configuration — on the new frequency,” the statement further added.