Mangaluru : Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, started its daily service from Mangaluru to Sharjah from Sunday. 

Jet Airways already operates 11 daily flights from Mangaluru to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The flights to Dubai began in the year 2013 whereas flights to Abu Dhabi was started in the year 2015. 

The addition of this new service will boost Jet Airways' offering to the Gulf market, further strengthening the airline’s growing network and cements its place as the largest airline connecting India and the Gulf. 

A formal inaugural function of the new flight held at the Airport was flagged off by Dr Nitte Vinay Hegde, chancellor of Nitte University. He expressed his good wishes upon the embarkment of the new journey. General Manager of Jet Airways U Harish Shenoy welcomed the gathering and Archana compered the programme. 

As many as 158 passengers travelled in the flight from Mangaluru. Hidayathulla Abbas, chairman of Hidayath Group, UAE, an NRI businessman was the first passenger flying on the premier class to Sharjah.

Jet Airways 9W 504 will depart Mangaluru at 09:30 hours and arrive in Sharjah at 11:45 hours (local time). The return flight Jet Airways 9W 503 will depart from Sharjah at 12:45 hours (local time) and arrive in Mangaluru at 17:55 hours.

Gaurang Shetty, whole-time director, Jet Airways, said, "It is indeed a proud moment for us at Jet Airways to launch our flight between Mangaluru and Sharjah. With economic ties between the India and Gulf region flourishing, Jet Airways recognizes the need to provide connectivity options to its guests. We are confident that our approach to provide direct global linkages with emerging Indian metros, will be popular to those living in these cities and Indians working in the Gulf and beyond."

Nalin Kumar Kateel, member of Parliament, Dakshina Kannada, Ramanath Rai, minister for forest, environment and ecology, U T Khader, minister for food and civil supplies, J T Radhakrishna, airport director, and U Harish Shenoy, general manager - South India, Jet Airways were present at the inauguration ceremony. 

It is to be noted that travellers embarking on a journey by Jet Airways from Sharjah and Dubai can avail 10% discount if you type SAHIL16 in the promo code by clicking the Jet Airways banner displayed on our website.