Newstrack

All Nippon Airways takes off from Mumbai

EAW Staff

Japan based All Nippon Airways (ANA) has started its all-business class Mumbai-Narita direct connections from September 1, 2007. Speaking with Express AviationWorld on this recent development, Kenji Sugino, director, marketing & sales ANA Mumbai says, "We are using a 36-seater Boeing 737-700ER on this route. It is an all-business class flight and we are fulfilling 50 per cent load factor on the same."

Narita, located in the Chiba prefecture of Japan is approximately 40 kilometres from Tokyo and is home to the Narita International Airport. Since business is booming in this region ANA, member of Star Alliance, believes that there is a high number of business traffic to be cashed on this route. The tickets are priced at Rs. 1,11,000 for a return fare and barring Wednesdays, the carrier will have six flights a week on this route. Interestingly, the carrier has added an extra fuel-tank. "We have removed the cargo from this flight and added an extra oil tank to enable direct flights since the distance between the two destinations is about ten hours. We are also working with the trade to popularise the product and are hopeful that the product will be recognised in the Indian market," concluded Sugino.