India’s Kingfisher Airlines Forays Into Middle East; Announces Launch Of UAE-India Flights

Kingfisher Airlines, India’s only Five Star airline rated by Skytrax, today announced its entry into the Middle East connecting India and the UAE, as part of its strategy of expanding its global footprint and adding new destinations to its international route network.

In a message sent to commemorate the launch of this new international route of Kingfisher Airlines, Dr. Vijay Mallya, Chairman and CEO, Kingfisher Airlines Limited, said, “Ever since its launch, Kingfisher Airlines has raised the bar with many market-firsts and innovations that have completely redefined the whole experience of flying. Given the strong linkages between the UAE and India, the launch of this new route will mean that travelers will now have the option to enjoy the award-winning Kingfisher Experience.”

Addressing the media at a press conference at the launch of its daily direct flights from Dubai to Bangalore, Mr. Siva Ramachandran, Vice President-Global Sales, Kingfisher Airlines Limited said: “I am delighted to announce the commencement of flights between Dubai and Bangalore which marks our entry into the UAE market for the first time. Dubai is the airline’s fourth international destination after London, Colombo and Dhaka. The flights between Dubai and Bangalore will be operated using the A320 family of aircraft featuring Kingfisher Class, the premium economy service from Kingfisher Airlines. What is unique to Kingfisher Airlines is that it has one of the largest networks in India connecting over 50 destinations from Bangalore which will assure seamless connectivity to our guests from the UAE who intend to fly to practically any major Indian city.”

Describing the launch of Kingfisher Airlines’ flight as an important development that further solidifies the strong links between the two vibrant and emerging economies and two vital entities, Mr. Richard Talian, Vice President, Strategy, Dubai Airports said, “While Dubai is the business and leisure capital of the region, Bangalore is the heart of India’s multi-billion dollar IT sector. And whereas Dubai Airports is considered one the world’s leading aviation hubs, Kingfisher Airlines is one of India’s fastest growing international carriers.”

The award-winning Kingfisher Experience includes onboard comforts so that guests are able to rest in the roomiest seats in the sky with a wide seat pitch and ample room to stretch their legs. Moreover, the dining options ensure that guests have an ample spread with a choice of mouth-watering options and a perfect accompaniment from a selection of beverages on board. The In-Flight Entertainment system will ensure enthralling world-class entertainment with a personal system on every seat featuring the latest blockbuster movies, English and Hindi TV programmes and Kingfisher Radio.

Mr. Ramachandran highlighted that the newly launched flights offer the best-in-class experience amongst the narrow-body products serving this route and this coupled with ideal and convenient timings, will offer travelers on this route a better option. “Our aim is to offer unprecedented convenience and comfort to our customers, both Indian expats as well as tourists from both countries. Thanks to our very competitive fares and Kingfisher Airlines’ vast and unparalleled domestic network in India, the initial response to the launch of these new flights has been extremely encouraging and we look forward to rapidly consolidating our market share on this new international route.”

The flight will take off from Dubai at 10:10 pm and reach Bangalore at 3:45 am, the following day. Kingfisher Airlines flights operate from Terminal 1 of Dubai Airport. The flights are conveniently timed with the flight from Bangalore leaving at 6:15 pm and reaching Dubai at 8:55 pm, local time.

Guests flying in to Bangalore from Dubai on Kingfisher Airlines will now have the added advantage of having very conveniently timed onward connections to many domestic destinations in India with almost immediate connections from Bangalore to Mangalore, Goa, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Pune, Kolkata, Hubli, Belgaum, Nagpur, Guwahati, Bhubaneswar, Hyderabad and all major metros in India. In addition, guests will also have the option of conveniently timed onward connections on Kingfisher Airlines flights to international destinations like Colombo and Dhaka.

Bangalore is ideally placed as a transit hub for travelers flying from Belgaum, Chennai, Calicut, Coimbatore, Hubli, Kochi, Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and Vijaywada into Dubai as it offers easy connectivity, thanks to the fact that it has a minimum connect time. Outbound travelers connecting with this flight of Kingfisher Airlines will not have to change or transfer from one airport terminal to another as the domestic and international sections are less than 100 meters away from each other.

Kingfisher Airlines caters to all segments of the air travel ranging from low-fare service-Kingfisher Red, to the premium economy service-Kingfisher Class, to the luxurious Kingfisher First.

Talk Globally And Pay Locally With Etisalat Calling Card

Etisalat today announced a cost effective solution for its customers travelling abroad this holiday season. The Etisalat Calling Card, available free of charge, allows customers to call their friends and family in the UAE and abroad, from any international destination, as per the standard international direct dialling (IDD) rates (the calls will be charged at the same rate as if customers are calling the international destination from the UAE, from their fixed line or mobile).

Customers travelling abroad on vacation or business can use the Etisalat calling card to call UAE or any other international destination, from any phone (payphones, fixed line or mobile). Customers also have the flexibility to charge these calls back to either their fixed line or post-paid mobile phone bill, without having to pay upfront for their calls or worrying about topping up the card. This card offers a practical solution for customers and offers better savings for their calls. Etisalat calling card is available free of charge, without any additional fees, or any roaming fees and customers can simply get these cards issued by visiting any Etisalat business centre. Moreover, customers also have the option to get multiple cards issued (up to 10 cards) for their families or relatives travelling abroad.

Mr. Khalifa Al Shamsi, Vice President, Consumer Marketing, Etisalat said, " Etisalat has always endeavoured to provide the most cost-effective and efficient services to its customers. With the holiday season around the corner, Etisalat is glad to offer a simple, free of cost and flexible solution to its customers to save on their international call expenses, while travelling. Etisalat calling card is an easily available, free of cost solution for customers travelling abroad. Customers can call through this card from any international destination to back home in the UAE or to any other international destination and pay as per the standard international direct dialling rates. For example, if a customer calls from UK to UAE, he will be charged as if he is calling from UAE to UK. Customers also have the flexibility to combine these calls with their fixed or mobile bills, and pay once they are back in the country."

Al Shamsi advised all the Etisalat customers to collect their Calling cards from the Etisalat business centres, before they travel. Customers will be required to submit an identity proof with a recent phone bill (fixed or mobile bill) on which the call charges made using the card will be billed back on, to get their calling card.

Customers can call 101 for more information, or visit Etisalat website – www.etisalat.ae to check the standard International Direct Dialling (IDD) rates for all the countries.

’Sylvia She Glows’ To Open Exclusive Boutique At Sunset Mall

Dubai Investment Properties today announced that renowned European brand, ’Sylvia She Glows’, is set to open their first Middle East retail outlet at Sunset Mall. The new boutique will feature unique and exclusive designs for stylish lingerie and dream wear to suit the multicultural versatile mix of modern and classical women – offering the best of both worlds.

Speaking on their foray into the Middle East, Sylvia Marton said, “We are looking forward to opening our first boutique in the Middle East at Sunset Mall. We chose Sunset because of its location in the posh Jumeirah neighbourhood, which also represents the concept of Sylvia She Glows – the multicoloured and versatile mix of modern and classical. Dubai, being an international destination for tourism and business, offers our brand a perfect opportunity to reach tourists, expatriates and locals together at one place. We are confident the Sylvia brand will soon become the preferred choice in designer lingerie and dream wear in the region.”

’Sylvia She Glows’, a brand created by celebrated designer, Sylvia Marton, evokes a mystical Arab aesthetic, mixed with modern European stylistic elements. The brand introduces novelty in the world of lingerie. Its uniquely designed dream wear collection presents a range of exquisite apparel and accessories, which offers the customer the choice of recreating an elegant and sophisticated look, as well as encourages them to mix and match to add a personalized fresh touch. Exclusive hand-made accessories, silk dream wear adorned with Swarovski crystals, and distinctive designs crafted with laser technology, reinforce its matchless appeal. The artistic studio also creates unique silk scarves, lace gloves, one-piece jewellery, and silk slippers, as well as matching toiletry bags.

“To help each woman feel beautiful and gorgeous at any time, whether it is for a formal occasion or for every-day wear, I created the ’Sylvia She Glows’ brand. It’s a design that in any given situation, gives you self-confidence in your feminine appeal and lends you a special glow,” Sylvia adds.

Sylvia boutiques strive to provide an exclusive, harmonic ambiance to compliments the guests; whose every request is considered in order to customize to their personal needs. Gold, black and red dominate the color palette of the shop design and gold floral ornamentation adds a mystical touch. An intimate, elegant atmosphere welcomes every shopper.

To serve its elite clientele, Sylvia Marton holds personal-scale fashion shows exclusively for women, which is by invitation only. After the presentation, customers have an opportunity to meet the designer herself and requests for unique, personalized dream wear collection created to compliment their individuality.

“We are happy that ’Sylvia She Glows’ chose Sunset Mall as their first Middle East retail destination. The Sylvia brand will blend perfectly with Sunset other retailers, which feature international luxury brands, renowned local designers and rising stars of the fashion world. We welcome them and extend our full support in helping them to establish the brand in the region,” concludes Ani Vladi, Manager Marketing and Operations at DIP.