A new twice weekly flight will start on Saturday 4 April 2009, from Birmingham to the northern India city of Amritsar. The
flight will operate by brand new airlines, Akal Air, which will
operate a 228-seater Boeing 757-200, departing Birmingham
on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 18.30
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The flight is exciting news for the large Asian community in the
Midlands, as Daljit Singh Birring, Managing Director of Akal Air,
explains: "Birmingham is the perfect base for Akal Air. Access to
Amritsar is of huge importance to the large Punjabi and Sikh
population of the Midlands taking the pilgrimage to the Golden
Temple and visiting family and friends, as well as for business
people trading with India’s emerging and developing economy"
.
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The move comes at a tough time for the airline industry – but
the private investors behind Akal Air believe they can exploit a
gap in the market by targeting a destination which is currently
poorly served by others out of Birmingham International Airport
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Mr Birring said he was confident that there was a large potential
market in the Midlands despite the current economic climate. He
said: "We recognise that we are bucking the trend by launching
a new service at a time when others struggle, but the difference
a new service at a time when others struggle, but the difference
between our offering compared to others is that we provide
a complete service to high and exacting standards, at a rate
which is value for money"
a complete service to high and exacting standards, at a rate
which is value for money"
.
"We will provide a quality service with in-flight entertainment
"We will provide a quality service with in-flight entertainment
system on board and a non-transfer flight for our passengers,
giving Akal Air a unique position in the market"
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The new service has been welcomed by the region’s business
The new service has been welcomed by the region’s business
community. Jerry Blackett, chief executive of the Birmingham
Chamber of Commerce, said: "lights to Amritsar are a high
priority for Birmingham and the West Midlands. We are
delighted that the plans for these links are being reinstated"
.
delighted that the plans for these links are being reinstated"
.
Akal Air flights will be operated Air Sylhet (SL) using a
Gadair European Airlines Boeing 757 and will make a short
non-transfer stop in Vienna before flying on direct to Amritsar
Gadair European Airlines Boeing 757 and will make a short
non-transfer stop in Vienna before flying on direct to Amritsar
.
For more information see www.akalair.com
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Wednesday 16 March 2009
