Kochi: Gulf Air commenced its service to Kochi, from Bahrain through Abu Dhabi, with its maiden flight carrying 133 passengers arriving on July 15 morning.

Being operated on Gulf Air's newly configured Airbus A-320, the flights would start from Bahrain on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 21.45 hours (IST), Gulf Air said in a press release.

The flights would depart from Kochi every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 07.00 hours (IST), the release said.

The return flight today left at 07.26 hours with 85 passengers, Air India (AI) sources said.

Gulf Air's operations to Kochi began after a final endorsement of the bilateral and commercial arrangements by the civil aviation authorities in India, the release added.

Gulf Air's vice president, Marketing and Sales, John Butler, said there had been 'overwhelming' demand for the first flights and reservations for the coming months were 'extremely positive'. The airlines hoped to extend the service soon, to operate five flights a week, he said.

Vice president network at Gulf Air, Fared Al Malawi, said the 'new venture offers new opportunities to consolidate and complement the historic ties and the strong relationship between Gulf Air's owning states and India'.

PTI