Pierre Jeanniot, former president of Air Canada and director-general Emeritus of International Air Transport Association, is all praise for Jet Airways. He has been on the Jet Airways board for two years.
Jeanniot was one of about 300 guests invited on August 23 at the Jet Airways' launch of five weekly flights of Airbus A-330 - 200 from Toronto to New Delhi and Mumbai at Liberty Grand in Toronto.
The launch saw plane seats displayed on a huge stage. Those seats 'are considered the world's most revolutionary and most luxurious airline seats -- designed exclusively for Jet Airways,' it was claimed.
Amid smoke blowing on to the stage, about six Jet cabin staff walked the 'ramp' -- women clad in yellow buttoned-up coats and men in black buttoned-up ones.
"We are starting five weekly flights from September 5 and these will become daily flights from December 5", said Jet Airways chief Naresh Goyal.
Jeannoit has known Goyal for 20 years. "Air Canada used to fly to India and that time we used to be in touch with Goyal because of his travel agency. He used to handle our business in India," he said.
The launch of Jet Airways' service between Toronto and New Delhi was also announced at a special luncheon for the media on that day itself.
"They wanted our help and we gave them a list of 105 names," said Sunil Jagasia, president of Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce. "We help them as the air link with India would help boost trade and investments between the two countries."
Goyal is not willing to buy Air Canada's contention that Toronto-New Delhi is a seasonal route.
"If the European airlines are flying in this sector -- British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, KLM, etc -- how could this be a non-profitable one," he asked.
He feels 1.2-million South Asians who live in Canada are the potential customers of Jet Airways. They all fly to India for one objective or the other. "There's enough business," he believes and it is that belief which induced him to introduce Jet Airways service on this sector.
Indian High Commissioner R L Narayan was among the special invitees. He recounted his meeting with Goyal in Kuala Lumpur several months back when Narayan was India's ambassador there.
"I discussed with him the growing importance of Canada, strengthening of bilateral ties. I am happy that Goyal has finally decided to introduce Jet Airways' service on this sector."
Kam Rathee, president of Canada-India Business Council, sounded critical of Air Canada's decision to discontinue flying to India.
"Earlier this year when Air Canada beat a hasty retreat from India with what now seems to be a miscalculated move, the C-IBC had warned that its space will be taken by Air Sahara and Jet Airways from India
That void has now been filled and thus (Jet Airways) is on the road to partaking the riches of the Canada-India air space."
While Jet Airways would do well on this route "it will have tough competition from North American and European airlines already flying in this sector for years," Rathee predicted.
Jet Airways moved 12 million passengers in India and outside to various destinations during 2006-07. That number, Goyal told this reporter, would increase to 14 million during the current year and their revenue would increase from $1.4 billion to $2 billion, reaching $3.3 billion in the next 3 to 4 years.
Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal welcomes Pierre J Jeanniiot (middle), board member of Jet Airways, along with another guest at the dinner he hosted in Toronto to announce the launch of Jet Airways' Toronto-New Delhi and Mumbai flights on August 23.
Photograph: Ajit Jain
