Air India’s Ahmedabad to Newark flight via London evinces passenger interest

BY Our Correspondent25 Aug 2016 9:05 PM GMT

Aug 26, 2016: Air India introduced the first ever flight between Ahmedabad to Newark via London, from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.

The B787 flight to Newark- the first commercial operation of the aircraft to the US from India- is likely to meet a long standing need and demand of more than 6 lakh Indians in Ahmedabad and expatriates in Newark and neighboring cities as well as of locals visiting the Indian sub-continent.

The flight seems to have generated immense interest among passengers as all tickets till September 16 have been sold out.

It is likely to boost tourism in India as well, as Air India offers convenient connections from Ahmedabad to Mumbai, Delhi and Chennai for onward travel to places of interest and tourism within the country.

The thrice-a-week flight AI-171 will be operational 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 AI172 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.

“Air India is happy to start this new flight on August 15, 2016. 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,” said Ashwani Lohani, chairman & managing director, Air India.

Passengers in the state-of-the-art Dreamliner aircraft, would be offered a host of features ranging from large overhead bins, cleaner and healthier air for fatigue-free travel, 60 percent larger windows, exclusive in-flight entertainment experience to specially designed gourmet cuisine.