Saudi low cost carrier Sama flies into India

Mumbai, Nov 12 (UNI) Adding more cheer to the gulf travellers, especially labourers working in the Middle East Asian countries, Saudi Low cost carrier Sama Airlines today landed its inaugural flight in the metropolis from Dammam.

The thrice a week a flight, offering a low cost of 199 Saudi Rials, had a considerable delayed maiden flight into India as it touched down at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport well past 1330 hrs as against the scheduled landing time of 1110 hrs.

The flight, a 737-800 aircraft with a seating capacity of 147, would be operated on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays.

The Airline plans to fly out of New Delhi also soon, a Sama Airline spokesman told newsmen here today. Sama Airlines Chief Executive Officer Andrew Cowen, who was in the inaugural flight, commenting on the new addition to the airline schedule, said Mumbai was the first destination for Sama in India and the eleventh international destination. Flying into India was part of Sama's strategy to meet the huge demand for low fare ravel between Saudi Arabia and India.

With six aircraft, Sama carried about 1.5 million passengers annually and hoped to have a sizeable pie of the Indian travellers to the Middle East destinations.

UNI VK RN AG1612