‘Overwhelming’ response just two weeks after launch
A NEW route to India, launched from Birmingham Airport less than a fortnight ago, has had so much interest the airline plans to increase the number of weekly services.
Comtel Air, began flights to Amritsar from Birmingham on the 1st October and planned to operate two weekly services each Saturday and Sunday. However, the airline says it has had such an overwhelming response from the region’s Indian community it will be increasing the flights from Birmingham in nearby future, and will be taking an aircraft from another European base to accommodate the Midlands’ demand.
Thomas Kopetzky, Director Ground Operations for Comtel Air, said, “We knew there was demand for more flights to India from Birmingham due to the large Asian community living in the Midlands and we thought that we’d eventually have to put on more flights but we never imagined we’d have to make this decision so soon after launching the first service. It just goes to show that people want to use their local airport to visit their friends and relatives out in India rather than travelling to London.”
Since launching the first Birmingham flight, Comtel Air has carried 744 passengers on its four flights between Birmingham and Amritsar. The flights, which are made on Boeing 757-200 aircraft, have a short stop in Vienna before flying onward to Amritsar in the Punjab.
Comtel Air, began flights to Amritsar from Birmingham on the 1st October and planned to operate two weekly services each Saturday and Sunday. However, the airline says it has had such an overwhelming response from the region’s Indian community it will be increasing the flights from Birmingham in nearby future, and will be taking an aircraft from another European base to accommodate the Midlands’ demand.
Thomas Kopetzky, Director Ground Operations for Comtel Air, said, “We knew there was demand for more flights to India from Birmingham due to the large Asian community living in the Midlands and we thought that we’d eventually have to put on more flights but we never imagined we’d have to make this decision so soon after launching the first service. It just goes to show that people want to use their local airport to visit their friends and relatives out in India rather than travelling to London.”
Since launching the first Birmingham flight, Comtel Air has carried 744 passengers on its four flights between Birmingham and Amritsar. The flights, which are made on Boeing 757-200 aircraft, have a short stop in Vienna before flying onward to Amritsar in the Punjab.
Martyn Lloyd, Air Service Development Director at Birmingham Airport said, “We’re delighted that Thomas and his team have shown confidence in Birmingham Airport, and indeed the region, and that they’ve had such an enormous response from the Midlands community. The success, in such a short period, proves that people want to fly from Birmingham and shows the enormous potential that’s available. The added benefit is that we also have a new service to Vienna as a result of Comtel’s start up.”
