Air India’s Calcutta-London flight on way out

Calcutta: Air India’s Calcutta-London flight, which was temporarily withdrawn in May for three months, is set to be disbanded.
“The flight is not doing well. The passenger load factor is poor,” civil aviation minister Praful Patel told Metro.
“In all probability, the flight will be withdrawn,” said a source in the civil aviation ministry.
Though Patel cited poor load factor, sources said private operators are preparing to bid for the slot.
Air India officials, however, denied that the thrice-a-week direct flight would be disbanded. “There is no likelihood of the flight being withdrawn. The passenger load is picking up,” said an airline spokesperson.
The flight, launched in June 2006, was withdrawn temporarily in May following a shortage of pilots. It was re-introduced in July with an Airbus 330 aircraft.
The flight was being frequently cancelled because of shortage of aircraft and technical difficulties.
According to sources in the travel and tourism industry, the biggest problem the Air India flight is facing is the timing. “The timing is not convenient for passengers planning to take a connecting flight from London,” said the source.
The flight takes off from Calcutta at 1.15pm and reaches Heathrow at 7.30pm (London time).
“By the time it reaches London, the connecting flights for US and European destinations leave. So, passengers have to wait for the next morning flight,” said Anil Punjabi, the chairman (east) of the Travel Agents Federation of India.
08/09/08 Sanjay Mandal/The Telegraph

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