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Air India to raise flight frequencies from Bangladesh
by Nazrul Islam

     Dhaka: The leading Indian airline, Air India, has reduced airfares for its three destinations-Kolkata, Delhi and London-from Dhaka, triggering a price war with its competitors. The airlines officials formally announced on Thursday that the fare cuts would be up to 13 per cent for the economy class and 10 per cent for business and first classes. The airlines reduced its fare to 120 dollars from previous 138 dollars for Kolkata-Dhaka return ticket in the economy class. It also slashed return airfare for Dhaka-Delhi-Dhaka to 405 dollars from 420 dollars inclusive taxes. The London-bound passengers can purchase return tickets for 800 dollars that was 850 dollars earlier. "Air India now offers cheapest fair for all the passengers from Dhaka to Kolkata and Delhi and attractive fares for London-bound passengers," said AK Mitra, the airlines country manager in Bangladesh. Narrating the airline's latest business performance and future plans, the official found Bangladesh to be a very prospective market for Air India. He said that market response is very good here and the air lines would immediately increase flight frequencies from Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.

   Air India now operates three flights weekly from Dhaka to Calcutta, Delhi and London. The Air India executive said that 20 more seats would be added immediately to its Dhaka-bound aircraft having 272 seats each now and the number of weekly flights will be raised to six. Air India restarted its flight operations in Dhaka route in June 2005 with occupancy of about 30 per cent, which has increased to more than 90 per cent now. "Good business encouraged is to increase capacity," he added. The airline also announced its summer schedules with effect from March 29. The schedule in Bangladesh time shows that the Air India Dhaka- Kolkata-London flight departs Tuesday from Dhaka at 7:45 a.m. (local time), arrive at Kolkata at 8:50 a.m. and reach London at 3:55 p.m., Thursday 11:55 am, 12:12pm and 8:05pm and Saturday 12:05pm, 12:25pm and 8:15pm, respectively. The Delhi-bound flights will depart from Dhaka on Tuesdays at 3:40 p.m. (local time) and arrive at Delhi at 6:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:50 a.m. and 10:40 a.m., and Saturday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:50 a.m, respectively.
-Mar 3,  2006

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