June 12, 2006 CHENNAI: Delta Airlines, which began its daily Boeing-767 service to New York through Paris from Chennai on May 11 last year, will sever its Chennai connection from November 1.
Airline and airport sources told The Hindu that the U.S. carrier had announced scaling down of its Chennai operation with a tri-weekly link effective August 5 till October 27. Air France was marketing the Delta Airlines product under a code-share arrangement for the Chennai-Paris-Chennai sector.
Against this backdrop, it is interesting that Air France has announced introduction of its direct thrice-a-week Airbus-340 operations to Paris Charles de Gaulle airport from October 30, offering 30 business and 261 economy class seats, fulfilling the long-felt demand of travellers in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
But with Air France announcing its Chennai link, Delta Airlines would code-share with Air France the Chennai-Paris-Chennai sector. Air France's presence in India will increase: it already operates daily services to Mumbai and Delhi, offering five-times-a-week link to Bangalore. It is set to augment it as daily connection from November this year.
According to sources, the airline will, however, operate the new Boeing-777-200 jet aircraft between Mumbai and New York City.
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Air France Increases Services To India
"Air France continues to develop its network to India, one of the world's fastest-growing markets.
Starting on 30 October 2006, Air France will operate three weekly flights to and from Chennai (Madras) using its own aircraft (the service is currently operated on a code-share basis with Delta Air Lines aircraft and crew).
The flight will be operated using an Airbus A340 seating 291: 30 in l'Espace Affaires and 261 in Tempo. The aircraft is equipped with the New Air France Travel Concept cabin for enhanced passenger comfort.
Schedules will be particularly well-suited to passengers with short connections at Paris-Charles de Gaulle on their way to and from other Air France destinations:
Flight AF 158: CDG2 10:20 a.m. - Chennai 00:25 a.m. local time. On Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Flight AF 157: Chennai 02:10 a.m.- CDG2 08:35 a.m. local time. On Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
These flights will also be sold by Delta Air Lines.
In addition to launching flights to Chennai, Air France will be increasing capacity on other flights between Europe and India, with seven weekly flights from Paris to Bangalore instead of five. The Paris-Mumbai (Bombay) route will be operated using Boeing 777-300s with 310 seats instead of the Boeing 777-200s with 270 seats operated last winter.
In all, Air France's capacity to India will be increased by 27.
Together, Air France and KLM will offer 42 weekly frequencies (instead of 36 last year) to Bangalore, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. The networks and fares of the two airlines may be combined, including to and from India, forming a vast network based around the hubs at Charles de Gaulle and Schiphol so that passengers can travel either via Paris or via Amsterdam.
That used to be United 001 and United 002, clockwise and anti-clockwise around the world. it used to be Washington->LHR->Del->HKG->SFO->Washington and Washington->LAX the otherway around i think, can't remember exactly was quite some time ago though.
I find it all rather odd that the American carriers don't bring in large a/c into India, given that India-US is the largest market out of India, and that's what fills almost all of (say LH's) the 747s flying out every night!
I guess it's just that the american carriers don't have anything larger than a 772 or a 767! But still quite odd!
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/006200611031859.htm Delta mulls more direct flights from other Indian cities to US Mumbai, Nov. 3 (PTI): World's fastest growing carrier Delta Airlines, which today flagged off a flight from Mumbai to New York, said it was examining the possibility to launch direct services from other Indian cities.
"We are closely examining the market to start direct flights from other India cities. If the need be, we will certainly start such services," Frank Jahangir, Delta's Staff Vice President - Sales and Affairs-Europe, Middle East and Africa told PTI here today.
Delta Airlines first started its service in India in November 1991 and has flights from Chennai, Delhi and Bangalore to the US via Paris on codeshare flights operated by Delta's SkyTeam partner Air France.
The US carrier flagged off the first non-stop service between Mumbai to the US at the wee hours of today.
"Having fifteen years of presence in India, we feel that the time is rife for us to start a direct flight to connect the two commercial centres of India and the US. We will aim at both the business class as well as the leisure travellers," Jahangir said.
He added that the direct flight would reduce the travel time by at least four hours, helping the passengers to make most of the tour.
The airline would use 268-seater Boeing 777, with 50 seats reserved for business class.
"We did a market survey prior to launch of the direct flight, which showed tremendous response," he said.
The fare has been fixed at Rs 44,421 for economy class and Rs 1,41,426 for business class.
By the way does AI operate any flight DEL-SFO nonstop?
I cant believe of all people you are asking this. From where are they going to get an a/c tht can fly DEL-SFO nonstop??? 744 could prolly do it but then dun have too many of those now considering all the leased a/c are goin back.
Cheers
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By the way does AI operate any flight DEL-SFO nonstop?
I cant believe of all people you are asking this. From where are they going to get an a/c tht can fly DEL-SFO nonstop??? 744 could prolly do it but then dun have too many of those now considering all the leased a/c are goin back.
Cheers
The reason being they were advertising DEL-SFO (without actually using the word "nonstop")
I was confused and shocked to hear it...
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