CONTINENTAL Airlines has decided to launch its non-stop flights between New York's Newark airport and Mumbai earlier than planned following a positive market response.

Subject to government approval, the four-times-weekly service will now begin on October 1 (eastbound), instead of a daily service from October 30 as announced earlier in March,



An airline statement said the new service will depart New York Liberty on Sundays, Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays. The frequency will increase to a daily service starting October 28 subject to government approval.



"We have received strong support for the nonstop New York to Mumbai service and are pleased to be able to move up its start date," said Jim Compton, Continental's executive vice president for marketing.



Continental's New York-Mumbai flights will be operated by Boeing 777-200 aircraft. Flight CO48, will depart New York Liberty on Sunday and Monday at 0720 hrs, arriving at Mumbai at 0740 hrs the next day; on Friday and Saturday, the same flight will depart New York Liberty at 0800hrs arriving Mumbai at 0820hrs the following day.



The return flight CO49 will depart Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on Mondays, Tuesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1145hrs, arriving New York Liberty at 0630 hrs the following day. Flying times will be 14 hours 50 minutes eastbound and 16 hours 15 minutes westbound.