Air China to connect Kolkata, Beijing

New Delhi: Buoyed by the success of its 2008 Olympic packages for Indians, Air China plans to start new services from Kolkata and Mumbai to Beijing from next year, which will help it handle the growing air traffic.
To questions on the Chinese carrier's expansion plans in the country, Zhao Quanzhen, the airline's Country Manager in India, said "we may start operations to Mumbai and Kolkata any time, but definitely next year."
Air China wants to use its unutilised bilateral air traffic rights, which enables it to operate in five Indian cities and mount 21 flights. At present, the airline operates only four times a week between Delhi and Beijing.
"Not even one-third of our traffic rights are being utilised now," he said, adding that the first priority would be to launch daily services to and from the National Capital.
Asked about the delay in launching services to other major metros, Zhao said a major factor was shortage of pilots, a problem plaguing the Indian aviation sector also.
21/12/07 PTI/Times of India

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Categories: Foreign Dec 2007