Jet Airways Enhances Links to Kuwait

Indian carrier Jet Airways is to enhance connectivity between Mumbai and Kuwait this week with the introduction of a second frequency each day on the route with effect from June 8, 2012. The new rotation will add to the carrier’s existing daily flight and will initially operate on a four times weekly basis, increasing Jet Airways’ weekly frequencies between Mumbai and Kuwait to eleven.

Looking at next week’s proposed schedule, there are 49 planned rotations between India and Kuwait, offering over 9,000 seats in each direction. Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport accounts for the largest proportion of the Indian capacity with a 35.8 per cent share, followed by Cochin International with a 20.7 per cent share. Kuwait Airways is the largest operator between the two countries with a 59.2 per cent share of the available seats, although Jet Airways is the largest Indian operator with 19.8 per cent share, ahead of Air India and Air India Express.

“Jet Airways has established itself as a prestigious brand on account of the warmth of its service and quality of its in-flight product. We are happy to introduce this second frequency four times a week from Mumbai to Kuwait and are confident that this new service will prove equally popular with our guests,” said Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways. “The new flight will provide seamless connectivity to guests from Kuwait flying to our international hub in Mumbai, as well as onwards on Jet Airways' domestic network as well as to Hong Kong, Singapore, Bangkok, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Colombo.

The table below highlights the development of capacity between India and Kuwait since the turn of the Century. There had been a steady growth up until 2009 but in the subsequent year when number of departures and availability fell by around a third. However, this capacity is being recovered and this year capacity is forecasted to rise 13.0 per cent and flight departures to grow 14.6 per cent. In 2011, an estimated one million O&D passengers flew between the two countries, up 7.8 per cent on the previous year and up 40.0 per cent on the 2006 figure.