Emirates introduces daily flights from Kolkata

Kolkata, Apr 7 (UNI) Emirates, one of the largest and most modern airlines of the Middle East, today introduced a non-stop direct daily flight between Dubai and Kolkata with a view to promoting tourism and easy business travel between the two cities.

Emirates, operating with the most modern 250-seater Airbus-300 aircraft in this sector, now flies in 82 citites in 52 countries. In India they presently operate through seven cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Thiruvanantpuram, Kochi and Chennai.

''After Kolkata we plan to bring Bangalore into the flight map of Emirates in India by September this year,'' said Emirates Executive vice-president, Commercial Operations, Ghaith Al Ghaith, who arrived here today with the inaugural flight along with a ten-member delegation.

Speaking to mediapersons on his arrival, Mr Ghaith said they had decided to introduce the direct flight in recognition of Kolkata's growing importance as one of the most important commercial hubs in the East and added that the city was fast becoming a gateway to the South East Asia.

He said contrary to the general belief a large chunk of more than 600,000 travellers from Dubai, who had visited India last year, came to Kolkata for visiting Eastern and the North East India, particularly during the rainy season.

'' Keeping this in mind we have also introduced a very attractive fare chart for all classes of travellers from Dubai to Kolkata and vice-versa, '' Mr Ghaith informed saying this introductory fare would continue till the end of July and if necessary for a period of two more months.

He said following the boom in air travel in India, the number of air passengers both in domestic and international sectors had gone up manifold providing a unique business opportunity for competent players like Emirates.

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