RAK welcomes SpiceJet’s first commercial service
dubai — Ras Al Khaimah International Airport on Friday welcomed the first scheduled SpiceJet passenger flight, with the aircraft’s arrival heralding the commencement of both a new phase of operations for the UAE transport hub and a new era of connectivity between India and Ras Al Khaimah.
The Boeing 737-800 touched dow just before 1.00am, SpiceJet’s flight SG 160 from Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi, was given a water salute.
Among the officials and dignitaries greeting the first set of passengers in SpiceJet’s first flight were Uttam Chand, Community Affairs Consul at the Consulate-General of India in Dubai, and Sanjay Khanna, CEO of RAK International Airport. Also attending the event were representatives from the RAK Tourism Development Authority, SpiceJet and key members from the Indian trade indus
try and business houses in the UAE.
Officials at the event highlighted the significance of the flight, with SpiceJet’s first tranche of new services set to connect passengers in the UAE to 28 destinations in India via Delhi, with more cities to be progressively
added in the coming weeks and months. Among the benefits of the new service that were highlighted was the economic enhancement that such connectivity would bring to business communities in both India and Ras Al Khaimah.
“This new service will open new routes for us to India, which is our largest market. With the facility to connect to more than 28 destinations in India via Delhi, it will stimulate consumer demand, provide connectivity and ease to our residents, and promote international tourism,” said Eng Sheikh Salem bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Chairman of the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Civil Aviation and RAK International Airport.
“India and the UAE enjoy a particularly strong relationship – one that has been built up over centuries of commerce and business as regional neighbours and has evolved into a comprehensive strategic partnership,” said Dr Aman Puri, Consul-General of India in Dubai.
“RAK Airport is progressively ramping up its scope of operations in a new phase of expansion and SpiceJet is an important partner in our strategy,” said Khanna.