Additional flights between South Africa and India set to boost trade and tourism

More airlines are expected to operate between India and South Africa following the Indian government’s approval of a proposal to increase the number of flights between the two countries.
Indian newspapers reported recently that the Indian government approved the Civil Aviation Ministry’s proposal to supercede the existing agreement, signed in 1998, which permitted Air India and South African Airways to operate 14 flights each week.
Currently only South African Airways flies the India/South Africa route, but the decision could pave the way for Indian carriers like Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines to start operating.
Air India is also now keen to resume flights to South Africa, which it discontinued a few years ago.
India’s deputy high commissioner to South Africa, Vikas Swarup, said both governments had agreed that more airlines should be allowed to operate.
“There have been two rounds of talks in Pretoria and New Delhi and we expect a new civil aviation agreement to be signed.
“This means both countries can now designate more airlines to fly between them. It would be a breakthrough and provide an institutional mechanism for more airlines to fly,” he said.
11/01/09 Taschica Pillay/The Times, South Africa

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Categories: Foreign Jan 2009