ANA targets higher fliers with new business-class-only service to Mumbai

Tokyo: Japan's All Nippon Airways announced Thursday a new service between Tokyo and the Indian financial capital of Mumbai catering exclusively to well-heeled business travellers.
A Boeing-737 with 36 business class seats will fly six times a week to and from Tokyo Narita airport and Mumbai from September 1 -- with no room for economy class passengers in the rear.
The airline is believed to be the first in Asia to offer business class-only flights, which have already taken to the skies elsewhere.
The new service reflects expanding business ties between Japan and India, which is enjoying near double-digit economic growth.
It also follows the success of business class-only services criss-crossing the Atlantic between the United States and Europe.
Analysts said other airlines in Asia would carefully study the market for such services before following ANA's lead.
"The business jet is obviously a trial for ANA," said Osuke Itagaki, an aviation analyst at Credit Suisse.
The cheapest fare for the new ANA business jet service between Tokyo Narita airport and Mumbai is 430,000 yen (3,622 US dollars), according to ANA's website.
03/08/07 Channel News Asia, Singapore

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Categories: Foreign Aug 2007, New Aug 2007