Hanmer selected to run portions of Emirates account

Sunil Gautam, managing director, Hanmer & Partners, said the firm would manage a comprehensive communications plan for the airline in Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi. Hanmer assistant vice-president Glen D'Souza will head the account. Hanmer is the second PR agency to be appointed by Emirates, in addition to Integral PR, which handles the northern India portion of the account. "Hanmer & Partners will be required to generate greater awareness of Emirates Airline and its associated brands," said Gautam. The development comes at a stage when the airline is gearing up for expansion of its operations in India. The airline will add Thiruvananthapuram to its routes, its sixth service after Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Cochin. Hanmer is currently associated with low-cost airline Spicejet's PR account in India, which Gautam said was non-conflicting. The agency also handled the launch of Etihad Airways in the country.