SFO — Jet Airways announced Wednesday the June 14 launch of its new direct service to Mumbai, India, from San Francisco International Airport.

India's largest domestic airline unveiled the takeoff date at the start of the summer travel season at SFO.

Airport officials expect 563,000 passengers to pass through the turnstiles over the busy Memorial Day weekend. That's up 5 percent from last year.

Discount carriers Virgin America, Southwest and JetBlue have all begun serving SFO within the last year and are driving the uptick in traffic, airport officials said.

"Getting through SFO has never been easier," said John L. Martin, director of SFO, regarding the start of the summer travel season. The airport is promoting faster security lines, more inexpensive parking and more flights to new destinations.

Still, officials suggested getting to the airport two hours before an international flight over Memorial Day weekend, and an hour and a half before a domestic flight, because of heightened traffic volumes.

The SFO-to-Mumbai flight is the West Coast's first direct flight to Mumbai. The service was scheduled to start May 5, but regulatory issues with China caused a delay.

The first leg of the flight goes from San Francisco to Shanghai. Passengers continue to India in the same plane after a two-hour stopover.

With the launch, Jet will become the first Indian airline to fly from San Francisco to Mumbai, India's

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business center. Jet will become the second airline to fly nonstop from SFO to Shanghai. United Airlines also flies that route.

Jet will fly Boeing 777-300 ER aircraft, which seat 312 passengers, including eight in first class and 30 in business class. The luxury airline's business class amenities include seats that convert into flatbeds and private suites.

The round-trip, economy class cost of the 20-hour flight will be between $1,300 and $1,400, said Manish Dureja, assistant vice president of marketing at Jet Airways.

"India's and China's economies are booming," Dureja said. "The spending power of the Indian consumer is pushing our expansion."

So is strong business activity between India and the Bay Area, particularly in the technology field, he said. Significant tourism involving Bay Area Indian families returning home occasionally is also expected to drive traffic.

Reach Tim Simmers at 650-348-4361 or tsimmers@bayareanewsgroup.com.