Jet Airways Heathrow-Mumbai flights ready to take off

Private Indian carrier Jet Airways has signed a transatlantic code-share deal with United Airlines as it prepares for its first flights from Heathrow.

The airline is to start a London-Mumbai service on May 23 with daily flights from Terminal 3 using Airbus A340s in a two-class configuration.

Fares went on sale this week on all four main GDSs although the airline has yet to provide online booking on its website for international services. Prices start at £399 return.

Jet Airways won the right to start flying from London as part of an air service liberalisation package that will see Bmi enter the UK-India market alongside British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Air India. Bmi starts four flights a week to Mumbai from Heathrow on May 14.

Jet Airways UK and Ireland general manager Dan Brewin said an advertising campaign was about to break supporting the new flights plus a range of events in London and the Midlands.

He said: “We offer a high quality service as a full service, business class flat bed carrier. We are not cheap and cheerful but will offer competitive fares.”

The A340s will offer 38 seats in business class with 73-inch seat pitch lie-flat beds and 231 in economy with a 32-inch seat pitch.

Mr Brewin, who has held senior roles with British Caledonian and British Airways, said there was a “huge” market of UK-India travellers to capture with the airline’s direct flights who currently fly via other countries.

Prior to Jet Airways’ UK debut, the airline has agreed the first international code share offered by a privately-run Indian carrier.

The deal with United – subject to government approvals – will see the US airline code share on Jet Airways’ London-Mumbai service and on onward flights within India, while Jet Airways will code share on United’s transatlantic routes from Heathrow.

Jet Airways is expanding its international network to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur in addition to London with the introduction of three wide-body A340s. The airline already serves Columbo and Kathmandu in Nepal as well as 42 destinations across India. It carries eight million passengers a year.

The airline’s chief executive Wolfgang Prock-Schauer said: “The United States is one of the largest markets to and from India and we are pleased to enter into a partnership with United. As our international network continues to grow, we look forward to working closely with United to expand our reach and provide our customers with seamless service across both airline networks.”

Report by Phil Davies