March 27, 2007: Doha is Air India’s low cost carrier Air-India Express’ latest destination. The airline has kicked off services from Doha to India with a service for Mangalore via Bahrain, a news report said.

According to the report, the Air India Express flight, carrying 31 passengers, became the first service to Mangalore from Doha. The flight was flagged off at a gala function at the Doha departure lounge where Indian Ambassador Dr George Joseph cut a ribbon at the check-in counter to mark the maiden service. To add to the celebration, young girls who donned classical dance attire marked the colorful event. Air India’s plan to bring in Doha on its map is the result of a promise made by the airline the Indian community in the Gulf nation. The Doha-Mangalore flight will operate two flights a week , that is on Sundays and Tuesdays, the report said.

The airline has deployed a new generation Boeing 737s with a capacity of 160 passengers on the route. The free baggage allowance on all Air-India Express flights will be limited to 30kg and one piece of hand luggage not exceeding 7kg from Doha. However, from India, the allowance is limited 20kg + 7kg, the report pointed out.

The inaugural flight was fun filled in the fact that all passengers and guests received a specially made cap carrying the logo of the inaugural flight. The function at the departure lounge was attended by representatives of various Indian organisations, the media and airline officials, the report added.

The report added that Air India Express services will also be made available to Air-India’s four other existing destinations namely Mumbai, Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram. To begin with, there will be 10 flights a week, four each to Mumbai and Kerala and two to Mangalore. One more flight will be introduced to Kochi on Thursdays by the last week of April, the report added. The Mumbai flights are on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays; and to Kochi on Sundays, Thiruvananthapuram on Mondays, Kozhikode on Wednesdays and Fridays, it said.