Bahrain-Kochi flight to start operation on May 26

Dubai, Apr 20 (UNI) Bahrain Air will start a direct flight from Bahrain to Kochi from May 26.

The first flight from Bahrain to Kochi will take off from Bahrain on May 26 at 1040 hrs and reach Cochin International Airport at 1730 hrs (local time) on Monday, it was announced in Manama.

The other two flights would operate on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing Bahrain at 1900 hrs and arriving at Kochi on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 0230 hrs. The Airlines would operate three times a week for the entire summer season, and would become daily from October.

''Our service to the south Indian city of Kochi is our first step into the lucrative market of India, particularly the southern region, to serve the increasing demand from travelling public,'' said Ebrahim Al Hamar, managing director of Bahrain Air.

''The service is especially for the Indian community residing in Bahrain and the other GCC countries or for those who are visiting their families or are for business or leisure,'' the Gulf News quoted him as saying.

Kochi is the largest commercial hub in the South Indian state of Kerala and is also a gateway to the other cities with the same state and others.

''Bahrain Air took the initiative entirely on its own to conclude the formalities and secure the clearance for traffic rights to India,''informed Al Hamar.

''We are very pleased to be able to serve the large Indian community by way of offering cost effective and comfortable means of travel to and from Bahrain to Kochi,'' he added.

''Bahrain Air passengers to Kochi will eventually be able to fly onward to other Indian destinations with the use of a domestic airline, with whom we are in the process of finalising the code sharing arrangements,'' Al Hamar concluded UNI XC RJ AS1327