Fight for Birmingham-India air route goes to Europe

The fight to restore a direct air link between Birmingham and India is being taken to Europe after West Midlands MEP Neena Gill said the Indian government’s protectionist attitude violated the spirit of an agreement with the EU.
Earlier this month, national carrier Air India said it would not be renewing its popular Birmingham-Amritsar route, which had been suspended in October last year as the firm tried to protect its Heathrow routes.
The decision meant Birmingham was left with no direct, non-stop link to India. Birmingham airport has been courting other airlines from the subcontinent – such as Jet Airways – as potential replacements, but Indian regulations mean that, as things stand, only Air India has a licence to fly direct routes between Birmingham and India.
In a letter to the Birmingham Post, Labour MEP Ms Gill said she was “astonished” by the decision not to reinstate the flights, and said she would be taking the matter up with the European Commission.
Speaking about the Indian government’s refusal to allow other airlines to fly direct from Birmingham to Amritsar, she said: “Only last September the EU and India signed an aviation agreement. I believe this decision contravenes the sentiment of this agreement and intend to take this matter up here with the EC.
“I am contacted all the time by constituents regarding what was a convenient service between Birmingham and the Punjab that served both the business and personal interests of so many in the Midlands and that avoided lengthy and difficult connections at Delhi.
“As such I am taking this issue up with representatives of the airline here in the UK and with the Indian High Commission.
“I have also written to the Indian minister for aviation and believe an explanation of what smacks of a protectionist policy would be highly desirable for the people of Birmingham.”
A large proportion of Birmingham’s Asian community has links to North India, which is served by Amritsar.
26/03/09 Tom Scotney/Birmingham Post, UK

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Categories: Air India - International Mar 2009, Airports Mar 2009, Foreign Mar 2009, NACIL Mar 2009