ETW Staff – Mumbai
Air India has commenced the first flight between Ahmedabad to Newark via London. The flight AI 171 took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 05:00 hrs. The flight is said to be receiving good response from the passengers as all bookings till September 16 are sold out. The first passenger to check in was handed the boarding pass by chief guest Bhupendrasinh Chudasama, Minister of Revenue, Education, Higher and Technical Education, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Gujarat.
The B787 flight to Newark will be the first commercial operation of the aircraft to the US from India. It is expected to meet a long standing need and demand of more than six lakh Indians in Ahmedabad and expatriates in Newark and neighbouring cities as well as of locals visiting the Indian sub-continent. The flight is expected to give a boost to tourism as well, as Air India offers connections from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai for onward travel to places of interest and tourism within the country.
AI-171 will operate three days a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. It will take off from Ahmedabad at 05:00 hrs and reach London at 10:15 hrs, depart from London at 12:30 hrs and arrive at Newark at 15:00 hrs. The return flight AI-172 will leave Newark at 22:30 hrs and reach London at 10:15 hrs next day, leave London at 12:30 hrs and land at Ahmedabad at 02:00 hrs.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashwani Lohani, CMD, Air India said, “Air India is happy to start this new flight. It is a dream fulfilled for the people of Ahmedabad on India’s 70th Independence day. This is the third international flight introduced by Air India and we shall be launching flights to more international destinations soon.”
Chudasama added, “This flight was eagerly awaited by the people of Gujarat and has evoked an enthusiastic response. Besides, this flight would also be instrumental in attracting people from all over the world to travel to Gujarat and vice-versa.”