Flights to more US cities soon
NEW DELHI, JAN 5: In an effort to liberalise air services between India and the US, civil aviation minister Praful Patel will be flying to that country for talks scheduled for January 13-15.
“While there is no restriction on passenger load between the two countries, a restriction exists on points of call, i.e., number of destinations,” an official explains. The aim of the talk is thus to connect more cities.
As per the existing arrangement, Air-India is permitted to operate 26 flights per week to four cities in the US - Chicago, New York, Newark and Los Angeles. On the other hand, Delta Airlines is permitted to operate seven flights per week to Chennai and Mumbai.
Air-India has identified the need for non-stop operations to the US and is tailoring its fleet acquisition accordingly. Services to San Francisco, Washington and Houston (also Toronto in Canada) have been planned in a phased manner.
The India-US talks come in the wake of a significant increase in international air traffic — passenger as well as cargo — to and from India during the period May-November 2004.
Last year, long-pending civil aviation issues between India and UK - the biggest market for Air-India - were resolved through negotiations. Consequently, entitlements for operation of air services will be more than doubled this year.
Each airline will be entitled to operate 40 services per week by winter 2005. UK carriers have also been granted access to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin besides the four metro destinations, and Indian carriers to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol in addition to London, Manchester and Birmingham.
On the India-Australia sector, entitlement will be enhanced for both sides from 2,100 to 6,500 seats per week over the next two years. Australian carriers will also get access to Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.
NEW DELHI, JAN 5: In an effort to liberalise air services between India and the US, civil aviation minister Praful Patel will be flying to that country for talks scheduled for January 13-15.
“While there is no restriction on passenger load between the two countries, a restriction exists on points of call, i.e., number of destinations,” an official explains. The aim of the talk is thus to connect more cities.
As per the existing arrangement, Air-India is permitted to operate 26 flights per week to four cities in the US - Chicago, New York, Newark and Los Angeles. On the other hand, Delta Airlines is permitted to operate seven flights per week to Chennai and Mumbai.
Air-India has identified the need for non-stop operations to the US and is tailoring its fleet acquisition accordingly. Services to San Francisco, Washington and Houston (also Toronto in Canada) have been planned in a phased manner.
The India-US talks come in the wake of a significant increase in international air traffic — passenger as well as cargo — to and from India during the period May-November 2004.
Last year, long-pending civil aviation issues between India and UK - the biggest market for Air-India - were resolved through negotiations. Consequently, entitlements for operation of air services will be more than doubled this year.
Each airline will be entitled to operate 40 services per week by winter 2005. UK carriers have also been granted access to Bangalore, Hyderabad and Cochin besides the four metro destinations, and Indian carriers to Glasgow, Edinburgh and Bristol in addition to London, Manchester and Birmingham.
On the India-Australia sector, entitlement will be enhanced for both sides from 2,100 to 6,500 seats per week over the next two years. Australian carriers will also get access to Chennai, Bangalore and Hyderabad.