Jet Airways, the country's top private airline, will launch its long-planned maiden flight to the US via Belgium by July-August this year and make Ahmedabad the fourth Indian city in its network to have direct flights to London's Heathrow airport from April 3.

The premier private carrier had earlier decided to start the Mumbai-Brussels-Newark flight on August 15, but efforts are now being made to advance the launch date, highly-placed sources in the airline told PTI in New Delhi.

Jet's American operations have been delayed by almost two years as it was originally scheduled in October 2005. The delay was caused by an inquiry by US Department of Transportation after an American company of the same name alleged that its Indian namesake had underworld links.

The charges were investigated and subsequently found to be untrue. Jet was later given security clearance by the home ministry in 2006.

The flight, to be operated by a Boeing-777 aircraft with a three-class configuration, may have an inaugural offer of an economy class return ticket at Rs 45,000 plus taxes.

Sources said the Ahmedabad-London Heathrow flight would be launched on April 3 as a twice-a-week service, but the frequency would be increased to thrice-a-week from May1. It already operates to London from Delhi, Mumbai and Amritsar.

The initial economy return fare on this sector would be an attractive Rs 22,000 plus taxes only, they said, adding this inaugural fare was likely to be valid for a month.

In a major makeover, the private carrier is also planning to launch a series of new initiatives along with a new logo, livery and seats from April three on London-bound flight.

The Ahmedabad-London flight would operate on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and return on Tuesdays and Sundays. From May 1, when the frequencies are increased to three flights each week, the additional flight would start from Ahmedabad on Saturdays and the London-Ahmedabad flight on Fridays, the sources said.

This flight would be operated by a wide-bodied Airbus A 330-200 aircraft having 30 Premier (business) class and 196 economy class seats.

Among the freebies to be offered on this flight is a chauffeur-driven pickup and drop for business class passengers at London within a 50-mile radius.

Sources said the Mumbai-Brussels-Newark flight would be a daily service, with an inaugural economy return fare of Rs 45,000 plus taxes. The First Class return fare till the US would be Rs 345,000 and the Premium Class Rs 148,000, the sources said.

Jet, which also plans to start operations to the Gulf when the government gives permission, has a fleet of 62 aircraft with their average age being little over five years.

Currently, only the state-owned Indian and Air India are permitted to operate to the highly-attractive Gulf region.

Jet's international network now comprises London, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, Bangkok, Colombo and Kathmandu. It operates as many as 340 flights a day and covers 50 destinations in the country and abroad. Since its inception about 14 years ago, it has carried over 70 million passengers.