17 September 2008

New airline to start flights from Birmingham to India

A new airline flying between Birmingham and Amritsar in Northern India launches on October 9, replacing services being dropped by Air India at the end of that month.

Called Bilga Air, the flights will be operated twice a week by Monarch, and using an Air Travel OrganiserÃ¢â¬â¢s Licence through tailor-made travel specialists Travelpack.

Flights will mainly operate on Sunday and Monday evenings from Birmingham. While some will have a technical stop for fuelling en-route, over 90% will operate non-stop.

Peter Vella, Birmingham AirportÃ¢â¬â¢s business development director said: Ã¢â¬ÅâœBilga AirÃ¢â¬â¢s operation will help to fill a very popular market which exists in the Midlands, and following the disappointing news that Air India will temporarily suspend its flights between Birmingham and India from the end October, IÃ¢â¬â¢m sure it will be greatly welcomed by the Midlands Asian community.Ã¢â¬~

The aircraft cabin will be a mixed configuration of economy and a premium economy product.

Flights start from Ã&#pound;575 return.

The operator is named after the famous historical village within the Sikh faith, located close to Amritsar in IndiaÃ¢â¬â¢s Punjab region.

By Bev Fearis