Centre wants one A-I Kolkata-London flight less from 26 February

Kolkata: The civil aviation ministry and Air India authorities seem to have embarked on a programme to hurt both the airline and NSC Bose airport.
They have decided to withdraw one weekly direct Kolkata-London service of Air India (A-I) from 26 February. The airline will be left with two direct flights between these two cities.
The process began three months ago. Originally the flight operated on the Delhi-Dhaka-Kolkata-London route and back. The Delhi-Dhaka sector carried a large number of passengers. This was withdrawn about three months ago and the route was given to a private airline affecting the interest of the national carrier. Almost at the same time, the Dhaka-Kolkata sector was separated and it was operated by a different flight of AI forcing passengers to suffer the inconvenience of a break in journey. The result was reduction in the number of passengers.
AI was left with three direct flights between Kolkata and London operated on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. After the Dakha sector was separated, AI changed the use of aircraft. Instead of Boeing-747, it introduced a Boeing-777 which is an indication of the number of fewer passengers.
16/02/08 Sashi Mukherjee/The Statesman

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Categories: Air India - International Feb 2008, Foreign Feb 2008, NACIL Feb 2008