Emirates commits further to India; Dubai-based airline to add 22 weekly flights

DUBAI, U.A.E, 28th May 2009 – Emirates airline announces a further expansion of its India operation as India propels itself to become one of the world’s fastest-growing aviation industries encouraged by a liberalization of its skies.

The Dubai-based airline will add 22 weekly flights as a support for the Indian government’s ambitious growth plan to attract 100 million travellers in 2010. The existing service of 163 flights per week to 10 Indian gateways will be strengthened to 185 over the summer and winter periods. High demand routes - Ahmedabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram - will be the chief beneficiaries.

Underlying Emirates’ continued investment in India, the airline’s expansion programme closely follows its ‘Journey through India’ campaign which involved a major revamp of the inflight product to meet regional preferences of India’s diverse populace.

Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Vice President, Commercial Operations West Asia and Indian Ocean said: “The global slowdown is not over yet, but the outlook for the future is showing signs of improvement. When traditional European markets dried up, India was quick to refocus its trade and marketing efforts in targeting regions not severely affected by the economic downturn such as the Middle East, Eastern Europe, Africa and parts of Southeast Asia. Emirates has a robust global network spanning over 100 cities in more than 60 countries and is well-placed to connect India to the world.

“Already, Emirates is witnessing a surge in the number of Middle East travellers seeking medical tourism options in India, given the favourable exchange rate and world-class facilities available.”

Ahmedabad
Emirates will serve Ahmedabad with a double-daily operation, adding six weekly flights to its existing eight-flights-a-week service. The expansion will be undertaken in a phased manner with three flights added on 2nd June and another three on 26th October. Pharmaceutical exports will receive a major impetus as the cargo capacity on the route will increase to 236 tonnes per week per direction.

Chennai
Emirates’ Chennai service will become a triple-daily with the addition of two flights between October and December this year, making Emirates the largest international carrier to operate from the city. Cargo exports from the city take the form of textiles, garments, electrical and electronic goods, machinery and spares, leather products, pharmaceuticals, perishables, valuables and mobile phones. The enhanced cargo capacity of 343 tonnes per week per direction will increase the city’s export potential to Europe, America, Africa and the Middle East.

Kolkata
Kolkata is a key gateway for business and leisure travellers from the Middle East and Europe seeking easier passage to North-East India. Emirates will enhance connectivity to the city with five additional flights from 3rd December, bringing its total frequency to 12 per week. Export of fresh fruits, vegetables, jute, leather, silk and tea will benefit from an improved cargo capacity of 190 tonnes per week per direction.

Kozhikode
Kozhikode – a port city in the Indian state of Kerala – has been frequented by Middle East traders as early as the seventh century. The airline will further strengthen its Dubai - Kozhikode connection by adding five flights from 2nd December. Post expansion Emirates will operate 11 flights offering 157 tonnes of belly-cargo capacity per week per direction.

Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram is known for its beach resorts, famous backwaters, and close proximity to neighbouring hill-stations and world heritage sites. Emirates will boost its access to this tourist gateway with the introduction of four additional flights between October and December, bringing its total frequency to the city to 12 flights a week.

With increases allocated to Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram, Emirates will serve the South Indian state of Kerala with 37 weekly flights, boosting the inbound tourism potential for the picturesque state.

Air Arabia takes off to Goa, India

Sharjah, April 16, 2009: Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa, today launched non-stop service to Goa, India, from the carrier’s main hub in Sharjah, UAE. The launch of this new destination reflects Air Arabia’s growing expansion into the Indian market.

Roundtrip flights will operate three times per week between Dabolim International Airport in Goa and Air Arabia’s hub in Sharjah. Air Arabia is now the only UAE-based international carrier to offer direct flights to Goa from the UAE.

The LCC will fly to Goa on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, departing Sharjah at 00:25 AM and arriving at Goa at 5:05 AM. Return flights will depart Goa at 5:50 AM and arrive in Sharjah at 7:35 AM.

Air Arabia’s first destination in the Indian state of Goa is also the carrier’s 13th destination in India. In total, Air Arabia will serve 46 destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Indian Subcontinent, Central Asia and the Southern Europe, including Athens. Greece, when service to that European city commences on April 21, 2009.

AK Nizar, Head of Commercial Department, Air Arabia, said: “We are delighted to now offer non-stop service between Sharjah, the cultural capital of the UAE, and Goa, one of the great heritage cities of India. Today, even more members of the large Indian expatriate population living in the UAE and GCC can take advantage of our extensive Middle Eastern and international network. We now serve 13 destinations in India, and are keen on continuously providing the best value-for-money service to this rapidly emerging nation. We are confident that Goa will serve as a great holiday, personal travel and business destination for our passengers.”

In addition to Goa, Air Arabia also serves the following Indian cities: Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Coimbatore, Delhi, Jaipur, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, Nagpur, Thiruvanathapuram and Hyderabad. The Sharjah-based carrier offers the most destinations of any airline in the Middle East, South Asia and North Africa.

Air Arabia offers visitors from Goa to the UAE, a convenient tourist visa service to visit their family and friends.

REFLECTIONS OF THE SUBCONTINENT AT THE GULF FILM FESTIVAL: Focus on India Segment Offers Cross-Section of Indian Short Cinema

Dubai: April 5, 2009: The Gulf Film Festival (GFF), held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), is an excellent opportunity for UAE residents to sample the cinematic offerings of the GCC and points beyond.


This year the festival, as part of its In Focus programming segment will focus on short films from India. In addition to offering cross-section of short films from established and emerging directors, there will be a panel discussing independent and short production in the subcontinent, followed by the screenings.

The panel will comprise Kiran V Shantaram, Director of Rajkamal Studios, V Shantaram Productions Pvt Ltd, Plaza Theatre, Mumbai and National Film Development Corporation Ltd, (NFDC); veteran film critic Sudhir Nandgaonkar, the Third Eye Asian Film Festival director; Pranav Ashar, President of film distribution company Enlighten, and filmmakers Anand Gandhi, director of Right Here Right Now, and Umesh Kulkarni, director of Three of Us, who also contributed his feature film Valu the Bull to the Dubai International Film Festival 2008.



The films in the section give a sample of the many outlooks, techniques and narrative themes in Indian independent production. Many are tales of survival against hardship: Three of Us, by Umesh Kulkarni, introduces Yogendra, who is confined to bed due to severe disability. Ganga Mukhi’s Punha (Yet Another Day) follows an old village vendor who finds no takers for his wares. In despair, he throws his goods in the river but life goes on, and so must the struggle for survival. In Kshitif (A Far Horizon), by Binitesh Baruri, a destitute trumpet player knows that his only hope is to sell off his trumpet and go to the city with his wife, but doubts if he has the will. Umesh Kulkarni’s Girni (The Grinding Machine) introduces Little Samir, his widowed mother and grandfather who have lost their mental peace to the noisy grinding machine that provides their livelihood.



Gitanjali Rao’s animated short Printed Rainbow concerns an old woman and her cat who live alone, but explore many magic worlds with the help of the woman’s collection of matchboxes. In Kshya Tra Ghya (XYZ), by Amit Dutta, a boy tells a story that he invents while narrating. The film is structured as a riddle and the answer to the riddle is another riddle or a story. Bejoy Nambiar’s Rahu weaves the lives of a motley bunch of protagonists together in tragic circumstances, under the gaze of one of the most destructive planets - Rahu. Amit Dutta’s Kramasha (To Be Continued) shows a boy who is sleeping, yet awake. A mysterious man with a black coat comes each morning. The boy has seen the man before - in his dreams.



A philosophical tone suffuses some of the selections: Plot, by Abhijit Mazumdar, is a small part of a bigger story that attempts to understand the vulnerability of human existence. The Cabin Man, by Ashish Pandey, asks: is there a destination in life? Is there life beyond a destination? Anand Gandhi’s Right Here, Right Now, a young man triggers a cycle of sorrow and joy simultaneously. Through 15 characters and 17 locations, the cycles meet to a conclusion that explains the absurdities of life. Khushboo Ranka and Anand Gandhi’s Continuum puts forth five moments of childlike innocence that culminate in a climax where they form the cosmic fabric itself.



There are also several offerings that contain dramatic narratives that address human relationships: Haravilele Indradhanush (The Lost Rainbow), by Dhiraj Meshram, addresses guilt: Sameer steals his brother Nitin's marbles and hides them in a tree. Years later, he returns the marbles to Nitin’s son. Chab Wali Pocket Watch (The Pocketwatch), by Vibhu Puri, shows an old Urdu poet struggling to keep the musical Hindustani language alive. From the UK, Amit Kumar’s The Bypass is the story of two men who ambush a car, kill the passengers, and steal the belongings. As they cross the hills, we discover they are not the only criminals in the area. Sanju Surendran’s Theeram (Sea Shore) explores the father-daughter relationship.



Several of the films are co-productions that offer interesting perspectives on India: from France, Do Dil (Two Heart), by Aatish Basanta, concerns the aftermath of family pressures on a loving relationship. India-US coproduction Birju, by Heeraz Marfatia, narrates the untold stories behind every photograph that slip through the confines of frame. Andheri is a US-India coproduction by Sushrut Jain in which Anita, a live-in maid, works in a Mumbai home but decides to run away and take her chances in the unknown big city.



The GFF will be held from April 9 to 15 and brought by the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture) in association with Dubai Studio City. For further information, please consult the festival website on www.gulffilmfest.com

Indian President presents Padma Shri Award to Sunny Varkey, Founder & Chairman of GEMS Education

Dubai, April 2, 2009: The Honourable President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil, has awarded Mr. Sunny Varkey, Founder & Chairman of GEMS Education, with one of the country’s highest honours, the Padma Shri award, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Education and Social service. The ceremony was held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

Mr. Varkey joins a select list of Global Indians to be honoured with the Padma Shri award for his exemplary services in the field of education across the world, particularly in the UAE where he operates 26 schools. Mr. Varkey manages one of the largest networks of private schools globally. GEMS Education has contributed significantly to the socio-economic progress of the various countries it operates in.

The international network of GEMS schools spans across nine countries providing high quality education to over 100,000 students from 124 different countries employing nearly 6,500 teachers; the largest employer if Indian and British teachers outside their home country.

He is widely recognized as an out-of-the box thinker and education entrepreneur and has been a pioneer in developing an enterprising blend of innovation, customer service and high education brand that has made global headway, GEMS.

“I am overwhelmed by this recognition from the Government of India. Education and social services are extremely close to my heart. I share this honour with the children and teachers of GEMS Schools across the world.

This award would not be possible if not for the wise leadership and vision of the leaders of the UAE Government.

Awards like this motivate us to continue the work we do in the field of education and to focus on initiatives that help provide education to the underprivileged, “Mr. Varkey said

Emirates takes you on a Journey Through India

DUBAI, U.A.E., 23rd March 2009 – Emirates is advancing its service on Indian routes with the launch of its unique ‘Journey Through India’ campaign.

Focussing on three crucial elements – inflight food and beverage; inflight product; and cabin crew management – the programme seeks to ensure the airline exceeds the expectations of its Indian passengers through regionalisation of the product on Indian routes.

Initiatives under the ‘Journey Through India’ campaign are featuring on Emirates flights to Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calicut, Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Thiruvananthapuram.

The menu on all routes and in all classes has been created to meet the regional preferences of Indian travellers. In addition it has been strengthened with a greater presence of Indian dishes, especially vegetarian options, while western dishes continue to be offered to cater to the global tastes of travellers.

In all classes, route specific mini savouries prior to meal service and after meal Indian digestives have been introduced. Advancements in the First and Business class menu include a choice of three hors d’oeuvres including Indian options. In Economy class a bar service has been introduced prior to the meal, which in itself has been boosted with a choice of two Indian and one Western dish. All passengers are served a welcome drink.

Inflight entertainment has also been regionalised and now offers route specific boarding music and reading material. Emirates’ patented and award-winning ice (Information, Communication and Entertainment) system that offers over 600 channels of entertainment is now offered on more Indian routes than previously. Although flying times to/from India are short, flights with or without ‘ice’ now boast an enhanced selection of programmes and music in varied Indian languages.

Cabin crew are an integral part of the Emirates’ experience and the Dubai-based airline has embarked on a massive internal communications programme to improve its crew’s awareness of ‘Destination India’. Over 10,000 of Emirates multi-cultural crew are improving their knowledge of India through route-specific booklets, online training courses and briefings prior to each flight.

Crew have also received a specially-produced DVD titled ‘Journey through India’ containing an introduction to the country, its diverse customs, and guidelines for interaction with passengers from different Indian states.

Terry Daly, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Service Delivery, noted: “India is a diverse and large country that boasts several languages, customs, and cuisines. As we expand our services to and from India, it is equally important that we enhance the quality of our service by adapting it to regional preferences. Initiatives under the ‘Journey Through India’ programme will help sensitise our crew members to cultural differences and enable them to better serve the needs of our varied Indian customers.”

In the second phase of the programme, regional language enabled crew will operate the flights.

Emirates operates 163 flights per week to 10 Indian cities.

Government of India honours Sunny Varkey with Padmashri Award

Dubai, January 26, 2009: The Government of India has honoured Mr Sunny Varkey, Chairman of The Varkey Group, which includes GEMS Education and Emirates Healthcare Holdings Limited (operating Welcare and City Hospitals and clinics), with the Padmashri award. It is one of the country’s highest civilian awards, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to education and social service.

Mr Varkey joins a select list of non-resident Indians to be honoured with the Padmashri, a reiteration of his stature not only in the Middle East but also in India, and across the world.

Mr. Varkey owns and manages the largest network of private schools in the United Arab Emirates and has almost 100 international schools around the world under the aegis of GEMS Education – a company that has contributed significantly to the socio-economic progress of the region.

Mr. Varkey received the Rajiv Gandhi Award for Eminent Educationist last year, and has also received the CEO Middle East Award for Corporate Social Responsibility, the Global Indian Business Award and the Most Outstanding Businessman of the Year by Asian Businessman Awards, Middle East – all for his achievements in education and healthcare.

“I am greatly honoured by this recognition from the Government of India. Education and social services are close to my heart. I thank the entire team of GEMS Education and elsewhere, who through consistent hard work and dedication have improved the lives of people around the world. I share this honour with each one of them. It is awards like this one that allow us to continue the work we do in the field of education in the private sector and to work on initiatives that help provide education to the underprivileged,” said Mr Varkey.