AIE may skip its proposed Bahrain link

Dubai, June 9 (UNI) Budget carrier Air India Express (AIE), which had postponed its Bahrain link in April after promising to fly to the kingdom in October, might once again skip the country disappointing a large number of low-paid expatriate workers.

The no-frills service, that offers fares up to 25 per cent less than normal Air India rates, dropped the Bahrain schedule in favour of expansion on more lucrative South East Asia routes, a source said.

The newly acquired aircraft that were to be deployed on the Bahrain-India sector would be re-configured into two classes and used elsewhere, Bahrain Tribune reported.

The airlines wants to operate on routes that would bring in more revenues and the Gulf region does not fit that slot, the source said.

Air India is on a fleet expansion programme by inducting 68 new aircraft including 23 Boeing 777s, 27 Boeing 787 Dreamliners and 18 Boeing 737-800s beginning February 2007.

UNI XC PV BST1347