Page 1 - SAO 03 NOV 2017.qxd (Page 16)

16 NEWS SOUTH ASIAN OBSERVER
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 03, 2017

PU eyes Canadian ties, seeks Canada Jetlines Appoints Vijay

help from alumni
Bathija to Advisory Board

CHANDIGARH: Collaboration with Canada will take
Panjab University to greater heights, vice-chancellor
Arun Kumar Grover suggested in his address to the media SAO NEWS Canada Jetlines is set to become
on Wednesday after the fourth annual event of the alumni TORONTO Canada's first ultra-low cost carrier
from Surrey in the North American country. (ULCC) airline, with plans to operate
He said nearly 400 former students of the PU were doing o boost its ultra-low cost flights flights across Canada and provide non-
very well in Canada and many of them were present at the Canada Jetlines Ltd. has stop service from Canada to the United
event. "My visit to the Canadian universities of British Tappointed an Indo-Canadian to States, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Columbia, Simon Fraser, and Fraser Valley was in the its advisory board. Jetlines is led by a board and
background of India's inviting proposals from 100 foreign Bathija has over 20 years of aviation management team with extensive
universities for funding 10 Indian institutes of industry experience with low cost experience and expertise in low-cost
excellence," the VC said. "All efforts will be made to invite start-ups, network carriers, and airlines, start-ups and capital markets.
good foreign universities to partner with us and CRIKC Canadian airport management. His The Company was granted an
(Chandigarh Region Innovation and Knowledge Cluster) appointment is effective immediately. unprecedented exemption from the
institutes. Our alumni in Canada can help us identify the Bathija was most recently President Government of Canada that will
gaps in making PU an institute of excellence." and CEO of John C. Munro Hamilton permit it to conduct domestic air
Grover said the PU had tried to build bridges between International Airport. During his services while having up to 49%
India and Canada by seeking research partnerships to tenure, the airport realized over 70% foreign voting interests.
improve lives in both countries. "I want the university to growth in passengers and secured Jetlines plans to operate modern
emulate the good Canadian practices to rise as a centre for significant new air services. Under Boeing 737-800NG aircraft in a 189 seat,
excellence in research in a journey towards being a global Vijay's leadership, the airport all-coach configuration. Jetlines
institute," he said. "If the PU gets support from the repositioned itself as a low-cost believes that Canadians deserve to
government, we will be a healthy institute hungry to move airport and subsequently became one have affordable low fares with the
forward." of the fastest growing Canadian added convenience of operating from
The VC talked about the IC-Impacts, Canada-India airports in 2017. secondary airports. Additional
research centre of excellence, which is aimed at bringing Prior to his time with the John C. services for baggage, seat selection and
together the government, industry, universities, and local Munro Hamilton International onboard beverages will be available to
communities to solve problems through applied research, Airport, Mr. Bathija spent nine years for Sabre Airline Solutions, advising customers for an additional charge.
for which the PU is encouraging knowledge transfer with Air Canada in progressively the client airlines on network, fleet, Jetlines is planning to begin ticket
between India and Canada. Dean of alumni relations Anil senior roles from Senior Director of and alliance strategies. sales through its website
Monga said the alumni in Canada had offered to help make Network Planning to Vice President, Stan Gadek, CEO of Canada Jetlines www.jetlines.ca in Spring 2018 and
university a global brand. Commercial for Air Canada Leisure stated, "we are pleased to welcome targeting start of flight operations for
Panjab University plans to reach out to more of its Group, which includes Air Canada Vijay Bathija to the Advisory Board. Summer 2018, subject to government
alumni based in America, England, and Australia, for Vacations and Air Canada Rouge. In His industry experience and his strong approval.
global branding of the institution. During his recent visit this position, Vijay successfully led the knowledge of domestic and Canada Jetlines is part of the King &
to Canada, vice-chancellor Arun Kumar Grover had commercial activities for the launch of international markets from Canada Bay group of companies. King & Bay is
shared with the alumni that in majority of the teaching Rouge and oversaw the ramp up of an will be invaluable as we prepare for a merchant bank that specializes in
departments, the seats for NRIs (non-resident Indians) initial fleet of 4 aircraft to 27 aircraft launch in the summer of 2018. Vijay identifying, funding, developing and
were vacant and they should motivate their children to within the first year of operations. will be instrumental in assisting the supporting growth opportunities in
join Panjab University. Vijay also consulted as the Senior Jetlines management team with future the resource, aviation, and technology
Principal/Director of Airline Planning airport negotiations." sectors.