Independent Indian carrier Jet Airways is to boost capacity on its flights from Mumbai to Hong Kong and Newark via Brussels through the introduction of Boeing 777-300ERs on each of the routes. This has been made possible by the return of three aircraft previously leased to Turkish Airlines (THY).

From July 28 it will replace an Airbus A330-200 on the Hong Kong flight, marking the introduction of a First Class product on the route, while from September 16, two of its seven weekly flights to Newark Liberty International Airport via Brussels, will also be upgraded from the A330-200 to the 777-300ER. These changes are expected to continue through to the end of the winter schedules in March 2012.

The introduction of the 777-300ERs on these two flights will also enable an A330-200 to be redeployed on Jet Airways’ daily Delhi – Singapore service from September 14 through to March 1, 2012. The carrier currently utilises a 737-800 on the link. The capacity increase will enable it to boost its share of the market and potentially overtake Air India in terms of passenger numbers. In the past year an estimated 294,000 O&D travellers used the route with Singapore Airlines accounting for just over half of the traffic. However, Air India and Jet Airways handled approximately 54,000 and 52,000 passengers respectively.

Jet Airways is due to take delivery of 24 new aircraft in the next 18 months, comprising 18 737-800s and six A330-200s, according to a recent report.

Schedule:

Mumbai – Hong Kong
9W076 BOM0105 – 0925HKG 77W D
9W075 HKG1915 – 2300BOM 77W D

Mumbai – Brussels – Newark
9W228 BOM0220 – 0750BRU1010 – 1230EWR 332 x57
9W228 BOM0220 – 0750BRU1010 – 1230EWR 77W 57
9W227 EWR1840 – 0750+1BRU1010+1 – 2240+1BOM 332 x57
9W227 EWR1840 – 0750+1BRU1010+1 – 2240+1BOM 77W 57

Delhi – Singapore
9W018 DEL0845 – 1705SIN 332 D
9W017 SIN2300 – 0215+1DEL 332 D