For a relative newcomer, Jet Airways has already made its mark. Not only has it captured a 42% share of the Indian domestic market, but it has collected a string of accolades on the way. And the airline is now making its presence felt on the international stage, with five routes already up and running and more in the pipeline. It is currently operating 280 flights a day to 48 destinations from its Mumbai base and secondary hubs of Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. International services include Colombo, Kathmandu, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and London Heathrow. Since its launch in 1993, the airline has carried more than 57 million passengers. Jet Airways’ fleet comprises three Airbus A340-300Es for its international services, plus 40 Boeing 737s and eight turbo-prop ATR72-500s for its extensive domestic network. With an average age of 4.6 years, the airline operates what is claimed to be the youngest fleet in Asia. Its much acclaimed Premiere Business Class on overseas routes features 38 lie-flat seats, each extending to a completely horizontal 73in bed, in a 2x2x2 configuration, plus an arm-rest video monitor. There are 231 seats in economy (2x4x2), with 32in of legroom. With more than 450,000 active members, Jet Privilege is India's largest loyalty programme. It was recently revamped to give members enhanced and more flexible opportunities to earn mileage with frequency of travel, as well as through increased tie-ups with partners. The airline’s success is highlighted by the fact that in March, Jet’s Initial Public Offering (IPO) was 16 times oversubscribed, and the first dividend, announced in September, was 30% per share. 'The future opportunities lie in capturing a share of the growing market for domestic travel within India, and also a meaningful portion of the international traffic into and out of the country,' said Jet Airways' chairman Naresh Goyal, addressing shareholders
at the company’s annual general meeting. 'Today, three out of four international passengers into and out of India fly on non-Indian carriers. International passenger growth is being driven by more tourism, improved economic prosperity and resulting business travel, by increased consumer demand for holidays and visits overseas and, finally, by greater affordability.' He added that the company’s technical reliability was an impressive 99% and that its safety record compared with the best in the world. In October, it became the first domestic airline in India to offer an online check-in facility for eticket holders, who can take advantage of the service anytime between 48 hours and 60 minutes prior to departure. Customers can not only select their preferred seat but also print their boarding pass for a same-day return flight. Orders are currently pending for a further 10 Airbus 330 aircraft to meet the needs for Asian and European markets, and for 10 Boeing 777s for longer haul destinations, including the UK and the United States, where it hopes to start services next year. What you get in Premiere Class Seat: 38 lie-flat beds in a 2x2x2 configuration (A340-300E ), with a 73in pitch; adjustable lumbar support and headrest; massage function; programmed positions; individual reading light; privacy screen, armrest video monitor,
in-seat phone Cabin amenities: wardrobe, newspapers and magazines (including Jetwings, one of the most impressive in-flight journals currently available), amenity kit, duvets, pillows In-flight service: pre- take-off Champagne (Krug); four-course meals with a choice of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes; meal preferences can be specified at the time of booking In-flight entertainment: digital audio and video on demand, with high-resolution, arm-mounted monitors in the Premiere cabin and seatback LCD screens in economy; wide choice of Hollywood and Bollywood feature
films, a library of 60 audio CDs, eight audio broadcast channels, single and multi-player interactive games; iXplor in-flight tracking system enabling passengers to log the progress of the flight On the ground: Club Premiere lounges available at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Jaipur, with lounge access at overseas destinations; dedicated Park Avenue check-in at London Heathrow Frequent flyer programme: Jet Privilege, with four levels of membership: Blue Plus, Silver, Gold and Platinum; JP Miles; partners include KLM, Northwest, Hilton, Hyatt and Hertz
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