The number of Air India Express (AIE) flights from the three airports in Kerala and from Mangalore to the Gulf countries will go up from 92 per week to 119 from October 29.

This addition of 27 flights per week, as part of the winter schedule of the budget carrier, would mean a rise of about 3,800 seats in the Gulf sector from October end to almost March end.

According to AIE officials, it is for the first time that the airline is deploying so many services from the cities of Kerala and Mangalore to the Gulf countries after the launch of its low budget carrier in 2005.

The aviation industry circles estimate that this massive increase would slash the fares in AIE and other airlines. A spokesman for AIE said these additions were possible mainly by jacking up the productivity of the 21 aircrafts that the airline possesses.

"We have not cut flights in any other sectors," he said. The productivity per aircraft, which hovers around seven hours per 24 hours, will now shoot up to 10.5 hours. The arrival of more pilots from Air India to AIE on deputation was a major factor that helped enhance productivity. "We want to increase the productivity so that each aircraft can be utilized for more than 12 hours per day.

Along with this, the airline will take steps to augment the schedule integrity," he said. A highlight of the winter schedule is that, it will ensure daily services to major Gulf cities from all the three airports of Kerala as well as from Mangalore.

Currently there are only three or four flights a week to these cities. Introduction of daily services will provide a comfort zone to the Gulf passengers from the state, as they can be sure of catching a flight any day,'' the spokesman said. For instance there will be daily flights from Kochi to Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha and Sharjah and thrice a week flight to Muscat.

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