Oman Air all set to start daily Muscat-Paris flights

Headed by the Airline's CEO Peter Hill, Oman Air, the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman displayed its unique style of hospitality at Top Resa, the leading French travel trade exhibition. The four day event that took place in Paris between September 22nd-25th featured a dedicated Oman Air stand manned by sales and marketing staff. Oman Air's Chief Executive Officer Peter Hill explained that Top Resa, the leading international high profile tourism show in France, would help raise the airline's awareness in the French market. Alongside Ministry of Tourism he stated, "We are promoting Oman as one of Arabia's most attractive yet undiscovered countries, which will become more accessible through our new service to Paris. As expected, a steady stream of visitors were welcomed at the Oman Air stand, over what was an extremely busy and fruitful four days."

Effective October 9, Oman Air will commence four weekly non-stop frequencies between Muscat, the airline's operational hub in the Sultanate of Oman, and the French capital, Paris. The airline will operate a Business and Economy class state-of-the-art Airbus A330 on the route. Promoting the new service, Oman Air offered a special attractive Round-Trip Introductory Fare, giving customers the chance to sample the airline's own unique brand of hospitality as well as experience the very special delights that a visit to the Sultanate of Oman affords. In conclusion, Peter Hill pointed out that Oman Air is growing at a phenomenal pace, opening up new routes, and adding new aircraft to the airline's rapidly expanding fleet. Oman Air has recently taken delivery of its first A330-200, becoming the newest operator of the aircraft. Powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 700 engines, the A330 will be configured in an ultra high comfort two-class layout with 20 Business and 196 Economy seats.

Gulf Air starts flights to Najaf in Iraq

Gulf Air, Bahrain's national announced the beginning of its new four times weekly service to Najaf in Iraq. The new service will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays until October 25, after which it will go daily, the airline said.

Jazeera Airways to add additional cabin classes

Low-cost carrier Jazeera Airways plans to add additional cabin classes as part of an effort to build revenues by attracting business and leisure travellers. New management is implementing changes at the Kuwait-based airline, including the new cabin classes as well as targeting other travel segments and adding more bases of operation throughout the region, in a bid to become one of the top regional carriers.

Finnair launches daily New Delhi-Helsinki flight

Finnair is launching daily flights to Delhi from Helsinki today. The route, which began in October 2006, has been expanded due its popularity among both business and leisure travellers. Flights to the Indian capital from Helsinki last just six-and-a-half hours thanks to its location on the great circle route. It is the shortest flight time between India and anywhere in the European Union. The route, which is the only direct link between northern Europe and Delhi, offers Scandinavian-bound passengers onward connections to Baltic Sea destinations in addition to London and Paris. Passengers travelling to the Indian capital can benefit from Delhi's status as a major hub, with flights operating to most major cities in the country.

Indian Railways rushes to the aid of stranded flyers

With the agitation by Air India executive pilots leading to cancellation of scores of flights for the fourth consecutive day, Railways today started operating 'May I Help You' booths at major airports, including Delhi, for the benefit of stranded passengers. "Passenger reservation counters would also start functioning shortly at all major airport terminals," said a senior railway official after Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee announced running special trains from Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi and Bangalore for those stranded. The official said services at the 'May I Help You' booths would be further beefed up if the need arises.

She said an additional coach could be attached to each superfast train to carry the extra passengers as per the instructions of the Minister. This apart, zonal railways have also been instructed to coordinate with airline officials to facilitate the movement of stranded passengers, the official said. All zonal authorities have been asked to provide information to passengers about vacant berths in all express trains at the temporary reservation counters and help booths at major airports, she said. Banerjee, earlier in the day, said she has asked Union minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy to arrange a special service of the Shipping Corporation of India tomorrow to bring back stranded air passengers at Port Blair.

Air India to pay staff incentives soon

Air India on Tuesday said that it would pay productivity-linked incentive (PLI) to all sections of employees on October 7. "Air India will pay the August PLI payable in September on October 7," Air India's executive director, Jitendra Bhargava, said. September salaries have already been paid to the employees' respective bank accounts, he said. The PLI will be paid in full, Bhargava added. The national carrier has cancelled 14 international and 79 domestic flights today, the fourth day of the strike by a section of its executive pilots protesting against the up to 50 per cent cut in their PLIs effected by the management. Bhargava said that today 116 pilots from Indian Airlines and 72 from Air India reported sick.

AirAsia to start new routes to India

AirAsia, Asia's leading low cost airline, will fly to Kochi, Trivandrum and Kolkata come December, in a move to expand its network in Southern India. AsiaAsia Group's Regional Head of Commercial Kathleen Tan said AirAsia was flying now to Tiruchirappalli and would spread its wings to other destinations in Southern India this year. "For the fourth quarter and next year, AirAsia will focus on building our network in India where there is huge demand," she said. Elaborating on the Indian sector, Tan said AirAsia was looking at tapping destinations like Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and AirAsia's long-haul affiliate, AirAsia X, would look further at Mumbai and Delhi.

She said the Tiruchirappalli sector received overwhelming response from the population in Southern India who visited Kuala Lumpur and used it as a gateway to enter Southeast Asia. Tan said the low cost carrier had opened up the flying experience as people not just travel for holidays but also for shopping or medical treatment. She said AirAsia's low cost model also boosted domestic tourism as the airline's huge network enabled more Malaysians to take short domestic holidays to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Miri and Tawau.