BA To Grow India Without Carrier Stakes

Hyderabad: Although the commerce ministry is looking at a proposal to open foreign direct investment in Indian carriers by foreign airlines, British Airways CEO Willie Walsh categorically denies an interest in putting equity in an Indian carrier.
Media reports in the past have indicated that cash-strapped Kingfisher Airlines has been in discussions with many carriers, including BA, for an infusion of funds. Virgin Atlantic and Singapore Airlines also have denied they were in such talks with the carrier.
"BA has no plan to pick up a stake in an Indian carrier...We still believe there is a lot of opportunity in India," Walsh told AviationWeek.
Walsh said talks on code sharing were held in the past for domestic routes in India and BA was open to reviewing them in the future. "We will start talking to some Indian domestic carriers like Jet Airways. The focus has been to promote code-shares within the Indian domestic market," he added.
"India is an important market for BA," added Walsh, whose airline has been flying to the country for 80 years. India remains BA's second largest overseas market after the U.S. in volume. Flights were increased from 19 in 2005 to 48 in 2008.
Now, as a part of an initiative to snip routes that are not lucrative, Kolkata and Dhaka in Bangaldesh will be pulled out in April. Flights to Islamabad, the only destination served in Pakistan, were halted following the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in September last year. BA will be starting flights to Jeddah and Riyadh this quarter.
23/01/09 Neelam Mathews/Aviation Week

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Categories: Foreign Jan 2009