Sama, the budget airline will operate three weekly flights between Dammam-Mumbai, on a fare which begins from as low as SR199. The flights start Nov. 12 Samer Atawi, Sama CCO said the three weekly flights will be on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays. However, the low-fare will be offered on first-come first-served basis, he said. The aircraft will be 148-seater Boeing 737s. “Sama will be the first airline in Saudi Arabia to launch its operation to India on such low fares,” he said. Atawi said Sama decision to launch its operation to India was purely based on high demand. The airlines currently operating to Mumbai could not meet the high demand, he said. “Moreover, not a single airline has so far offered fares as low as SR199,” Atawi added. He said there was no question of staging a fare-war on Indian route, as Sama has already launched similar low-fare flights between Dammam-Alexandria, Dammam-Damascus and Jeddah-Damascus, he said. He said introduction of flights between Riyadh-Mumbai and Jeddah-Mumbai are also on the cards as Sama was in the process of acquiring five more new aircraft early next year. There are many Saudi students enrolled in Indian universities besides 1.6 million Indian workers living in Saudi Arabia. They all look for low fares to travel between the two countries for employment, visit or Umrah purposes, he said. “However, we do not want to name Sama as ‘budget airline' rather it is a smart carrier for its known excellent customer care and in-flight service to the passengers,” he said. According to statistics of General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) over 1.2 million passengers traveled between Saudi Arabia and India in 2006. For online booking passengers can follow a mere five-step procedure by logging on its website (www.flysama.com) or through Call Center on 9200 05588, or Sales Center in all the main cities (Riyadh, Dammam, Jeddah, Madina, Abha) and the airports, or through authorized travel agents inside Saudi Arabia and outside. Andrew Cowen, Sama CEO, said the introduction of Mumbai will be Sama's eleventh international destination. “ This is a part of our strategy to meet the huge demand for low fares travel between Saudi Arabia and India,” he said. – SG __
