Jet Airways enters into first intermodal codeshare

Neelam Mathews

Sept 15, 2011

Jet Airways has entered into an arrangement with Thalys high-speed rail service between Brussels and Paris, its first intermodal codeshare. The new service is a result of the coordinated effort of Jet Airways, Brussels Airlines, Thalys –the rail partner and Brussels Airport.

The code-share service is now available for sale, for travel starting from October 3. Jet Airways’ guests will now be able to access Brussels Airport from the French capital in a mere hour and forty-seven minutes.

Under the codeshare, Jet Airways will place its marketing code on the Thalys operated direct train service between the train station at Brussels Airport and Paris Nord.

Guests can now book a combined Thalys-train ticket between Paris and India or US and Canada via Brussels with Jet Airways through travel agencies or via jetairways.com.

“Jet Airways has constantly innovated to set new benchmarks …... As the largest long haul carrier in Brussels since 2007, offering daily six direct flights to India and North America, we are certain that our guests from France as well as from both the Asian and North American continents will greatly benefit …..We look forward to extending partnership with Thalys to more European cities in the near future.” Nikos Kardassis, CEO of Jet Airways, said.

“Travelling to and from Brussels Airport, the international airport at the heart of our network is part of our optimization strategy to go beyond the expectations of our international clientele. Moreover, through this partnership, Thalys is establishing itself as a key player and pioneer in the development of rail-air transport, ” Franck Gervais, CEO of Thalys International, said in a statement.

Michel Jadot, General Manager of SNCB Europe and President of Thalys International, said:  “By developing a unique technical solution which allows trains with mandatory reservations to be sold directly in GDS, SNCB can now claim to be a major player in air-rail distribution.”

For Brussels Airport, situated 17 kms of the Brussels-South station, this direct connection with Paris, by a high-speed international train like Thalys, marks an important step in the ease of access strategy.

Jet Airways currently operates a fleet of 97 aircraft, which includes 10 Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, 12 Airbus A330-200 aircraft, 55 next generation Boeing 737-700/800/900 aircraft and 20 modern ATR 72-500 turboprop aircraft.