Aviation

AI exploring Polar route to reduce NY flight time

Chetan Kapoor - Mumbai

Jitender Bhargava Executive Director (Corporate Communications) Air India

As airlines find means to save costs, national carrier Air India is surveying the possibility of taking the Polar route for its non-stop flights to New York from New Delhi and Mumbai thereby reducing flight time and fuel consumption.

Jitender Bhargava, its executive director (corporate communications), said, "This route will enable us to save about one and half hours of flight time on the two routes. This should be in place between September and October." At present, the current flight time to New York from New Delhi is 15 hours and from Mumbai is 16 hours.

Meanwhile, the carrier continues to replace old aircraft by inducting new generation aircraft. "Our passengers can take advantage of this in addition to our becoming a member of a global alliance (Star Alliance). By 2009, we shall be a progressive airline with better product offering to our customer," he added. The carrier recently inducted a Boeing 777-300ER at the Farnborough Air Show. However, like most carriers, Air India too will be temporarily withdrawing flights from certain sectors and certain slots until end of September, the spokesperson informed.

Elaborating on the highly anticipated European hub, Bhargava mentioned, "Currently we have five B777-300ER aircraft flying between various points in India to the United States via Europe and as more aircraft join our fleet, it becomes essential for us to have a European hub which we will announce soon. However, it will definitely be a place where we have a Star Alliance partner in order to make connections simpler."