Dateline Desi
25 years of Jet Airways:
It’s always been about
service excellence
On May 5, 1993, the first Jet Airways aircraft with its distinct blue-and-ochre livery and the flying sun logo taxied for takeoff at Mumbai airport. On board, among others, were the Indian aviation pioneer JRD Tata and the new airline’s founder-chairman, Naresh Goyal.
Twenty-five years later, Goyal continues to spearhead the fast-growing operations of Jet Airways. From just four aircraft in 1993-94 to 119 today; from 12 destinations back then to 65 in 2018; and from 24 daily flights then to 662 arrivals and departures this year, the growth has been phenomenal.
“Jet Airways has changed the landscape of aviation in India,” says B Chandrashekar, General Manager, North America. “That’s because the emphasis has always been on our guests and their satisfaction.” It is this commitment that led to Jet Airways winning the India’s Best Airline award in 2017 in TripAdvisor’s first annual Travellers’ Choice awards.
“And this is why Jet Airways continues to be the number one choice for travel to Europe via our Amsterdam hub, and onward to Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. When you fly out of Toronto Pearson, you are served by our own staff at Terminal 3, and onward connections to India and European cities from Amsterdam are often within two hours. We serve 45 Indian destinations. If you are travelling to India from North America, the domestic connections there are seamless. Which is why, even with growing competition, Jet Airways continues to maintain its market share year after year,” he says.
For bookings and info, log on to www.jetairways.com
Culture Bridge Festival celebrates the Greater Toronto Area’s diversity
Experience your neighbour’s culture here in your own community – no passport needed. Culture Bridge Festival (cbf), a Celebration of Cultural Diversity, has a variety of social experiences for everyone, children through to grandparents, that will bring them out of their homes and into the community to sing, dance and eat together in Newmarket and East Gwillimbury.
“The celebration of culturally diverse music and artforms provides a platform for greater understanding among neighbours and communities,” says Ranji Singh, ceo, Culture Bridge Initiatives. “It helps to accentuate similarities among people, about the common things that make people feel happy,”
Visitors will be entertained by the various world artistic and cultural contributions to the vibrant Canadian mosaic. Expect an exciting, inviting intercultural exchange of songs, dances, magicians, food vendors, food trucks (come hungry), a marketplace, workshops and a Kidzone, along with a huge splash pad for the little ones.
Culture Bridge Initiatives works towards its vision of caring neighbourhoods enriched through celebrations of cultural diversity in communities. It received a $440,000 Grow grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2015, to help with the costs involved with hosting community celebrations.
Where and when: Riverwalk Commons, 200 Doug Duncan Drive, Newmarket.
July 14: 4-8pm. Sounds of India: A delightful and colourful presentation of dances and music reflecting various regions of India, featuring The Living Room Kutcheri; Aditya Matkar, 2018 Panorama Junior Indian Idol; Bhangra Crew Ontario and more.
July 15: 1-8 pm. An artistic exposition of dances and music from several world cultures including First Nation, Asian, Caribbean, Mediterranean, Latin American, an African drumming circle, and 2016 Grammy nominee (Reggae) Jason Lindo. And Territorial Tales, an illuminating short play to recapture the spirit, written and created by three diverse young writers under the mentorship of Canadian Stage.
Free admission. A nonperishable food donation will be appreciated in support of their annual food drive supporting the Newmarket Food Pantry.