Safar Travel & Tourism, a member of ALFAHIM Group, has announced its partnership with GoAir airlines to roll out direct flights between Abu Dhabi International Airport in the UAE and the newly opened Kannur International Airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala.
Under the partnership, Safar Travel & Tourism will act as the general sales agent for GoAir in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, marking the award-winning travel agency’s entry into India’s growing air travel industry.
With the inaugural flight from Kannur to Abu Dhabi International Airport taking off this March, GoAir will offer direct flights on Airbus 320neo with two cabin configurations, economy ‘GoSmart’ and business ‘GoBusiness’.
Mr. Jeh Wadia, Managing Director of GoAir, said: “This is a historic moment for GoAir as it enters the Middle East region with its maiden flight taking off from Kannur to Abu Dhabi, thereby strengthening the India-UAE relationship one step further. GoAir is one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, and Abu Dhabi is our fourth international destination after Phuket, Malé and Muscat, and our 28th destination overall.
He added: “GoAir is delighted to partner with Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC). We take this opportunity to thank the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE and our partners, Safar Travel & Tourism, for making this happen.”
GoAir’s flight schedule will provide passengers with four direct flight services per week at an attractive all-inclusive one-way fare of AED435.
Mr. Awj Khalil, General Manager of Safar Travel & Tourism, said: “Safar is proud of its partnership with GoAir that allows UAE residents to book flights to destinations across India with ease. India represents one of the fastest-growing markets for budget airlines, with GoAir at the forefront of the movement to make air travel an affordable option for everyone. By giving more people access to GoAir’s routes and its connections with India’s major international transport hubs served by UAE-based carriers, Safar is also contributing to the growth of Abu Dhabi’s aviation and tourist sectors.”
Kannur International Airport is expected to serve more than one million passengers annually, and authorities estimate the number will increase fivefold by 2025. With approximately 2.8 million Indian nationals living in the UAE, Safar Travel & Tourism’s strategic agreement with GoAir means a large segment of the Abu Dhabi community can now benefit from the company’s extensive range of professional, convenient and low-cost travel services. Travelers will be able to book flights to any of GoAir’s 22 domestic destinations with ease.
Kannur is one of India’s most popular beach destinations that has been traditionally associated with the Arab world through trade relations that date back to the 12th and 13thcenturies. Historically described as the Land of Looms and Lores, this small town with the Western Ghats in the east and the Lakshadweep Sea in the west enjoys a wealth of natural beauty. Kannur boasts beaches, hill stations, rivers, backwaters, historical monuments and religious centers.
As the demand for affordable travel to locations across the Indian subcontinent grows, GoAir continues to add new routes to connect regional cities with international travel hubs. The airline has also introduced business class options as well as flights to popular tourist destinations in Asia, including Phuket in Thailand and Malé in the Maldives.
