Bahrain Air, the first and only premium low price carrier in the country, will launch its service to India today (Monday), with the inaugural flight to Kochi, Kerala.

The non-stop flight to Cochin International Airport will leave Bahrain at 10.40am today.

Marking the new service, a reception will be held at Bahrain International Airport, under the patronage of Civil Aviation Affairs under secretary Captain Abdulrahman Al Gaoud.

The response to the new service has been overwhelming, said Bahrain Air managing director Ibrahim Al Hamer.

'We have a full flight on the first day, and the demand is very heavy for other flights,' he told the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

'Starting with three flights weekly followed by daily flights in October demonstrates Bahrain Air's commitment to the Indian market.'

The service between Kochi and Bahrain marks the beginning of an expansion plan that will link the Indian Subcontinent and the Middle East through the airline's hub in Bahrain, said Al Hamer, who will head the Bahrain Air's official delegation to Kochi.

'Our service to the south Indian city of Kochi is our first step into the lucrative market of India, particularly the southern region, to serve the increasing demand from travelling public and in particular from the Indian community residing in Bahrain and the other GCC countries.

The schedule was finalised after a long market research, said Al Hamer.

'The passengers, both business travellers and regular passengers, will find it very convenient,' he added.

Monday flights will depart Bahrain at 10.40am and arrive at Cochin International Airport at 5.30pm, local time on the same day.

'The other two flights will operate on Tuesdays and Fridays, departing Bahrain at 7pm and arriving at Kochi in the early hours of Wednesdays and Saturdays,' said Mr Al Hamer.

Schedule

'This service will operate three times a week for the entire summer season, and will become a daily service from October this year.'

Currently Bahrain Air operates services to two GCC destinations, Dubai and Doha. It also flies to Amman, Damascus and Beirut in the Middle East and operates a service to Mashad in Iran.

The airline has already announced its inaugural service to the second destination in Syria, Aleppo, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, starting in June this year.

By the end of this year, the airline will also fly to Kuwait in the GCC, and Dhaka and Kathmandu in the Indian sub-continent.

Bahrain Air started operations out of Bahrain International Airport on February 3 this year. The airline operates a fleet of two modern Airbus 320 and will increase to three aircraft in June this year, with 12 seat capacity in Premium Class.-TradeArabia News Service