Citing the global financial crisis and slowdown as the main reason, private air-carrier, Jet Airways [Get Quote], said on Friday it would be discontinuing its Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco service with effect from January 13 next year.

However, passenger traffic between the two sectors would be served via Jet Airways' London Gateway in co-operation with partner airlines, Jet Airways said.

"In light of the downturn in major economies worldwide, more specifically in the US and UK, Jet Airways plans to optimise its network, focussing more on its established international gateways and routes," it said.

As a part of the same, the airlines' Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco route would be discontinued with effect from January 13, 2009, it said.

Jet Airways has already announced a code share partnership with United Airlines with convenient connections between Mumbai and several US points via London in both directions, the company said.

This would enable Jet Airways to continue to serve its San Francisco customers under a 9W flight number, in a more economically viable manner, it said.

The airline had launched its Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco flight on June 14 this year with much fanfare.

A senior airlines official had dubbed the launch as a step forward towards Chairman Naresh Goyal's vision to make the airlines among the top five airlines globally by 2010.

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