And Two Airlines You've Never Heard Of Continue To Expand; Jet Airways of India & MAXjet Spread Their Wings With New Routes

Chances are, unless you're a frequent visitor to India, you've never head of Jet Airways.  It's India's largest, privately owned airline, serving 40 cities in that country as well as ten other international destinations, including London.  This August, Jet Airways plans to link New York (from Newark airport) with flights to Mumbai via Brussels.  And by fall, Jet Airways will also serve San Francisco and Mumbai with flights via Shanghai. 

The new routes--the airline's first to and from North America--are intended to make Jet Airways a household word and, according to a press release announcing the new service, to help Jet Airways become one of the world's top five airlines by 2010. With plans to begin service between India and Toronto, Johannesburg and the Persian Gulf, it's well on its way to becoming an international player.  The planned purchase of 20 wide-body Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 jets, as well as 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, must have the competition startled.   

I've flown Jet Airways within India and found the airline uncommonly comfortable, its staff gracious, and its cabin service a cut above most domestic service in the US--not that that's a very difficult accomplishment. 

This is not a discount carrier, though I expect Jet Airways will undercut its competition in price.  The airline pours Krug and Dom Perignon in first class, and its new Boeing 777s will have private suites for eight passengers (left), seperated by sliding doors from the main cabin.  Business class will offer flat beds, economy passenger seats will recline 130 degrees.

Meanwhile, MAXjet --the all-business class airline that along with Eos is responsible for the fare war among trans-Atlantic carriers trying to lure business-class passengers--is also spreading its wings.  It's converting its seasonal service between London's Stansted airport and Washington's Dulles airport into year-round service beginning May 24, 2007.  And on Aug. 30, 2007, MAXjet links London and Los Angeles with service Sunday, Monday, Thursday and Friday.  Tickets between London and LA begin at $699 each way--often the equivalent price of coach class on most airlines.  MAXjet's seats aren't lie-flat, but they're leather, and passengers enjoy business class cuisine, space and lounges.  Currently, the airline flies to London from New York, DC, and Las Vegas.