Newstrack

EVA Air temporarily suspends passenger operations from Mumbai

Chetan Kapoor - Mumbai

Taipei-based EVA Air has decided to temporarily suspend its operations from India's financial capital of Mumbai to Taipei starting June 1, 2008. The airline's last flight from Mumbai was on the May 31, 2008. In a brief telephonic conversation with Express TravelWorld, Eric Chiang, general manager (India), EVA Air said, "We regret to inform that we are temporarily suspending our operations from Mumbai to Taipei and will not be able to comment further on this subject." The carrier commenced its passenger operations from Mumbai to Taipei in December 2006.

However, another source working closely with the company, on condition of anonymity disclosed, "Spiralling fuel costs has lead the airline to pull out passenger services from India and the company is now in process of route rationalisation and once the fuel costs stabilise, they will work out another strategy for India." According to news reports the airline also withdrew its Taipei-Paris operations in November 2007 citing 'high expenditure'.

With the cancellation of certain flights prior to May 31 and the subsequent temporary suspension, passengers were being boarded on either the next EVA Air flight (in case of the former) or re-routed through Bangkok, Hong Kong or Singapore to the final destination at or beyond Taipei, mentioned the source. Further, the source maintained that Greenways Air and Travel will continue to remain its GSA in the India region as the carrier continues its cargo operations from Delhi. Mumbai, on the other hand, will become an offline location.