The carrier plans to cater to business and leisure travel between the two cities, with a significant Chinese population residing in San Francisco. Jet Airways plans to tailor its China product to the market’s needs, and has commenced recruitment of Chinese crew.
Jet Airways will be the first Indian carrier offering connectivity to San Francisco, beating Kingfisher Airlines which announced plans to launch non-stop services there in Aug-08. The carrier’s service to San Francisco will also be Jet Airways’ fourth daily connection from India to North America, following the launch of services to New York’s JFK and Newark airports, and Toronto Pearson International Airport, within the past year.
A new bilateral agreement between India and China allows for Jet Airways to operate to San Francisco using Shanghai as its first Asian transit hub. The agreement permits each country’s carriers to operate 42 services per week to/from each country to three beyond points, with no more than 2 points in one region. India specified the US and Canada as one region, Australia and New Zealand as the second region and Asia as the third region for its beyond points, while China chose Africa, Middle East (including Gulf area) and Europe as three beyond points for its carriers.
(c) Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation. Date posted: 19-May-08.