Foreign airlines vie for pie in Indian skies

Mumbai: Foreign airline companies, including US-based Continental Airlines, Hong Kong based Cathay Pacific and SriLankan Airlines, have big plans underway in India, thanks to the booming airline market here and the under-served routes. These airlines are crafting aggressive marketing strategies to tap the growing potential of the Indian skies.
Timothy J Kennedy, managing director - Europe, Middle East and India, Continental Airlines, says India is a large and fast-growing market, so it's only natural that Continental wants to operate here. Dimuthu Tennakoon, manager, Maharashtra & Gujarat, SriLankan Airlines wants to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination. Indian destinations contribute nearly 16% to SriLankan Airlines’ revenues at present, which the airline is trying to better to 20-25% by the year-end.
Meanwhile, Cathay Pacific officials told FE that apart from their home market, India is a top priority since the airline has witnessed 25% growth last year from this country, with passenger sales drawing over Rs 325 crore during the year.
Continental Airlines is already flying the Delhi-US sector and will be operating Mumbai-US flights from October 2007.
03/05/07 Shaheen Mansuri/Financial Express

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Categories: Foreign May 2007, General Aviation May 2007