Jet Airways inaugural flight welcomed at Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: At a welcome ceremony held at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Jet Airways, was welcomed by Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) as the carrier's first destination into the UAE. The introduction of this new destination also marks Jet Airways' first foray into the United Arab Emirates, expanding the airline's Gulf route network to five destinations.

In a statement Jet Airways said its flight 9W582 (Delhi-Abu Dhabi) will depart Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport at 2100 hrs and arrive at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 2335 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W581 (Abu Dhabi-Delhi) will depart Abu Dhabi International Airport at 0025 hrs and arrive at Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi at 0520 hrs.

Jet Airways' flight 9W584 (Mumbai-Abu Dhabi) will depart Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at 2135 hrs and arrive at Abu Dhabi International Airport at 2325 hrs. On the return leg, flight 9W583 (Abu Dhabi-Mumbai) will depart Abu Dhabi International Airport at 0015 hrs and arrive at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport, Mumbai at 0450 hrs.

As of today, both routes will offer non-stop, daily flights from Abu Dhabi to India's commercial and administrative capitals.

For the convenience of Jet Airways passengers connecting to Dubai and vice versa, the airline will offer a seamless transfer through scheduled bus services effective 24 April 2008. Jet Airways bus service 9W7485, Abu Dhabi to Dubai will depart Abu Dhabi airport at 0115 hrs and arrive Dubai at 0245 hrs, while bus service 9W7486 will depart Dubai at 2000 hrs and arrive at Abu Dhabi airport at 2200 hrs to connect to flights from Abu Dhabi to Delhi and Mumbai.

ADAC said that the arrival of Jet Airways into Abu Dhabi International Airport will raise the total number of international carriers operating from the UAE capital's airport to 37. The increase in services on two key routes between India and Abu Dhabi is expected to attract immediate interest from travelers in both countries.

"Abu Dhabi and India enjoy a long, close history in relation to matters of trade, growth, commerce and more recently tourism," said Mohammed Al Bulooki, director of marketing & communications, Abu Dhabi Airports Company.

Jet Airways will introduce its world-class service on the Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft with Premiere and Economy class configuration, offering the highest quality of service.

Announcing the launch of these new flights, Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, chief executive officer, Jet Airways, said, ''The launch of Jet Airways' operations to Abu Dhabi is an important boost to the airline's growing route network in West Asia. Trading links between India and the United Arab Emirates having existed since long and the relationship between the two countries has been traditionally close and friendly- resting on firm foundations of political, economic and cultural links.

''It is our belief that Jet Airways, with the excellence of its dual-class service offering and competitive fares, is optimally positioned to cater to both passenger segments on this route.''

In a bid to highlight its arrival in the UAE capital, the airline said that services from Abu Dhabi to Mumbai and New Delhi will be offered at (one-way) introductory prices of AED 450 and AED 500 respectively with many connecting flights to cities within India costing around AED 250 extra.

Return economy fares start at AED 1,000 to Mumbai and AED 1,100 for Delhi. Fares in Premiere, Jet Airways' business class, start at AED 1,700 for one-way and AED 2,500 for a return ticket to Mumbai. Premiere fares for Delhi are AED 1,750 one-way and AED 2,550 return. All fares are exclusive of taxes.

At the start of the year, Jet Airways became the first private airline to connect India and the Gulf region.