By our community reporter
Melbourne: After a 16 year absence the Indian flag-carrier Air India is to start three flights each week and would run from Delhi direct to Melbourne, then back up to Sydney and onwards to Delhi. Air India shall commence operation of nonstop flights between India and Australia effective 30 August 2013. The first flight will depart Delhi on 29 August and arrive in Sydney on 30 August, before returning to Delhi via Melbourne.
These flights will operate on Delhi-Sydney-Melbourne-Delhi route four times a week and on the Delhi-Melbourne-Sydney-Delhi route thrice a week, providing daily connectivity between Delhi and Sydney/Melbourne.
These conveniently timed flights depart Delhi at noon and reach Sydney / Melbourne early morning. On the return, flights reach Delhi at about 630 pm. This schedule ensures convenient onward connections both in Australia and India.
This service of Air India will fulfill the long felt need of direct flights between Australia and India. With flying time of just about twelve and half hours, it will be as convenient as having breakfast in Australia and dinner in India. These flights will also provide a major boost to trade, investment and tourist traffic between India and Australia.
Air India has released very competitive fares in the market to promote this service. The fares from Australia are common rated for eleven major cities viz. Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Kozikode, Kochi, Thiruvannantpuram and Chandigarh in India; implying passengers will not have to pay anything extra to travel from Delhi to these destinations. Air India has also offered attractive fares for onward travel to regional destinations such as Kathmandu / Kabul and long haul routes on Air India’s European network. Passengers travelling to Europe will be entitled to a complimentary stopover in Delhi on the Australia-Europe leg of the journey.
Air India’s frequent flyer programme ‘Flying Returns’ (www.flying returns.co.in) offers generous rewards to its members. Members of programme can avail a host of privileges including additional free baggage allowance. Passengers can enrol free of cost through the program website.
The flights are now open for booking through agency channels.
This new daily Air India service will also mark Australia’s first ever Boeing 787 Dreamliner passenger service.
Air India is one of the first airlines in the world to introduce the Boeing 787 aircraft, popularly called The Dreamliner. The Dreamliner aircraft is the latest in aviation technology – it’s more fuel efficient, has a smaller noise footprint, and its larger windows, cleaner air and lie flat business class seats ensure passengers arrive at their destination feeling refreshed.
Air India currently operates the Dreamliner on its London, Frankfurt and Paris services from India. The aircraft has become the first choice of travellers in a short span of time.With a very strong product proposition, Air India is confident these services will serve the needs of the market well and will be a huge success, a media release says.
