Jet Airways, India's premier international airline, today launched its first daily direct flight from Kozhikode to Dammam in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia significantly enhancing flight connectivity to the Gulf, especially into Saudi Arabia.

At a function at the Kozhikode airport, the first incoming Boeing 737 flight 9W 577, which arrived from Dammam was greeted by a water salute.  Later a multi-faith prayer was conducted at the terminal building to mark the inaugural flight 9W 578 out of Kozhikode to Dammam. The airport director, Peter Abraham, lit a ceremonial lamp, cut a ribbon and handed over the boarding pass to the first passenger in the presence of other dignitaries and officials of Jet Airways.
 
As per the schedule, 9W 578 will depart Kozhikode at 2,200 hrs and arrive into Dammam at 2,359 hrs (local time). The return flight 9W 577 will depart Dammam at 1,020 hrs (local time) and arrive Kozhikode at 1715 hrs.
 
The airline has deployed a Boeing 737-800 aircraft on this new service, offering Premiere and Economy guests an in-flight product that is among the best in its class, warm service, award-winning in-flight entertainment, as well as delectable cuisine and convenient schedules. Kozhikode is the third destination in Kerala after Thiruvanathapuram and Kochi to have a daily nonstop service to Dammam.
 
Jet Airways now operates eight flights daily from India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, making it the largest Indian operator in the region. The introduction of this new service from Kozhikode to Dammam, further reinforces Jet Airways’ commitment to the Indian expatriates working in the Gulf in terms of affording them seamless point-to-point connectivity to and from the Gulf. With this flight, Jet Airways will achieve the landmark milestone of become India’s first private airline to operate over 60 daily flights to multiple destinations in the Gulf.
 
With this new enhanced flight, Jet Airways will achieve the landmark milestone of becoming India’s first private airline to operate over 60 daily flights to multiple destinations in the Gulf. This includes daily departures to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Kuwait, Sharjah, Muscat, Jeddah, Dammam and Riyadh, thus making the airline the largest operator between India and the Gulf.
 
Gaurang Shetty, senior vice president, Commercial, Jet Airways, said ''The introduction of this new flight from Kozhikode to Dammam is an important landmark providing guests with seamless connectivity for point to point travel. We are happy to provide connections to the Gulf from all three gateway points of Kerala, the other two being Kochi and Thiruvanathapuram. Jet Airways has already established itself as a prestigious brand in the highly competitive Indo-Gulf market and we are confident that this new service will prove equally popular among its guests.''

Shares of the company declined Rs 11.45, or 4.16%, to trade at Rs 264. The total volume of shares traded was 691,220 at the BSE (3.27 p.m., Wednesday).