International carrier Continental Airlines became the first airline to launch trans-Atlantic non-stop flights between India and the United States, when a Boeing 777 aircraft arrived in New Delhi from Newark on Wednesday night.
Continental Airlines of the United States 'is making history today by linking these two great nations with non-stop flights for the first time', airline's President Jeffery Smisek told reporters, adding, 'We are connecting the right destination and the right airport at both ends'.
The service, which will shave off several hours of flying time between the two cities, would be operated through the polar route. The time taken for the eastbound journey would be a total of 14 hours and the westbound, 16 hours due to headwinds.
The airline would operate daily flights from Newark in New Jersey to New Delhi without any stoppages. Continental would be soon followed by another US carrier, American Airline, with a similar non-stop service in codeshare with Air Sahara.
Private carrier Jet Airways would also be operating to the US next year, while Air-India is looking at new destinations in America. The travel would be hassle-free due to no stoppages, change of flights or completion of immigration or other formalities at the airports midway.
Asked about the recent US travel advisory after the serial blasts here last week, Smisek asserted, "We do not fly anywhere unless we feel safe. The travel to India is perfectly safe. We have consulted closely with the security agencies in the US as well as in India".
He said the regular fares would hover at about Rs 38,000- 45,000 for economy class and Rs 1.25 lakh in business.
The Boeing 777, which arrived on Wednesday night, was received by Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit and US Ambassador David C Mulford.
