Air-India began its operations to Dubai on September 2, 1969. According to Air-India's marketing manager (Dubai and Northern Emirates) Anil Mathur, the `Fly into gold with Air-India' promotion, under which one gram of gold will be given away for every ticket purchased, is aimed at stimulating business in the current season. And along with the free gold, the buyer of the Air-India ticket will get a chance to take part in a mega gold raffle where 20 kg of gold is being offered as a prize.

The scheme is running in conjunction with ARY, one of the largest bullion wholesalers in Dubai and DNATA, the Dubai general sales agent (GSA) of Air-India.

The ARY Bullionaire draw is to be held on December 3, aswell as run-up draws on October 7, November 4 and December 3 in which 20 prizes of 100 grams of gold will be raffled.

The Air-India ticket bought during the gold promotion can be used for travel at any time during its validity except during the December 15 to January 15 millennium close-out period.

Mathur told the Khaleej Times newspaper that the offer was valid on the purchase of any Air-India ticket, including pre-paid tickets, and was to all passengers on all flights out of Dubai (and even on the child fare of 67 per cent) through cash or credit card payments.

Summer is the peak season in the UAE when most Indian expatriates return to their hometowns for their annual visit. All flights leaving Dubai for Indian cities are full from the end of June, when schools close here, till early September when they reopen.