AI launches system to improve connectivity

Kolkata: AI has introduced Hub and Spoke system with hubs at Delhi and Mumbai that are connected to all domestic airports in India. While eastern, north eastern and north Indian cities, including Kolkata, have been connected to the Delhi hub, cities down south, central and west India have been linked to Mumbai.
The system allows passengers to check in their baggage at the local airport without having to go through the formalities in transit. On March 29, AI had also introduced an international hub in Frankfurt that connects fliers to destinations around the world.
Now, a passenger from Kolkata can catch flights to all major airports across the globe through Delhi. IA 111, one of the two "spoke-flights" from Kolkata allows connectivity to several destinations, including London, Tokyo, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. IA 101 takes off from the city in the evening, offering connections to Chicago, New York, Singapore, Osaka, Frankfurt, Jeddah, Paris, Sanghai, Tamam and several other cities via Delhi. "What's most important under the system is that passengers can clear immigration and get through check-in facilities from the originating airport. It saves them a lot of hassles in transit," said an airline official.
Now, if a passenger wants to fly to Osaka or to London, he can clear the immigration and baggage check-in from their home city. In Delhi, they only need to change the aircraft without even changing the terminal.
With Frankfurt becoming the third hub, fliers from India will get additional connections.
In the last 12 days, the average load factor of international passengers on our two spoke' flights from Kolkata were 30% to 35% for at least 12 destinations across the world. Flights are going full, for they are also carrying domestic passengers.
Industrialist Sanjay Budhia, who flew to New York recently, appreciated the system. Although he had to wait in Delhi for an hour to catch the connecting flight, he felt it was better than remaining confined within the aircraft for several hours at a stretch.
08/06/09 Arpit Basu/Times of India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: NACIL Jun 2009, New Jun 2009