Jet Airways to stop Bangalore - Brussels service

In a shocking development, Alex McWhirter of Business Traveller reports that Jet Airways has decided to stop flying between Brussels and Bangalore, a route commenced just a few weeks ago.

Raja Segran, the carrier’s VP for Europe and the Americas, confirmed to Business Traveller that Jet will cease flights by January 12, 2009.

Along with Bangalore - Brussels, Jet will cut two unprofitable routes linking India with Europe and the US within the next two months.

First for the chop is London-Amritsar, which is used mainly by low-revenue leisure travellers. It will end on December 1.

After Bangalore-Brussels on January 12, Shanghai-San Francisco, will follow, which will be dropped the following day on January 13.

This last route is a surprise, seeing as Jet Airways is thought to be the best option, as it’s the only carrier to fly non-stop from Shanghai to San Francisco. The Mumbai - Shanghai sector will remain, however.

It means that from early next year Bangalore will be left with only four direct air services from Europe: British Airways and Kingfisher from London Heathrow, Lufthansa from Frankfurt and Air France from Paris Charles De Gaulle. The Kingfisher flights are performing very poorly, and even that flight is suspect.

“Right now all Indian airlines are losing money,” says Raja Segran, “so we are not immune. However we are probably doing better [than the others] and we are having to take measures [such as dropping the two above-mentioned routes] to come out of the financial crisis.”

Jet’s existing services from Brussels, to Mumbai, Delhi, New York and Toronto, will continue as before.