Emirates may increase flights to 10 Indian destinations

Premier Gulf carrier Emirates may increase frequencies to its 10 Indian destinations in the next six months and has renewed its interest in investing in ground handling and other allied services along with its sister concern Dnata, its top executive said here.
"We are probably going to increase frequencies into the 10 points we operate in the next six months. ... We will plan it (growth plans) out in the next few months," Emirates President Tim Clark said on the sidelines of a travel and tourism conference.
Emirates operates to the four metros, besides those of Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kozhikode, Cochin and Thiruvananthapuram.
Asked whether Emirates would be interested in investing in ground handling or other aviation activities, he said "if opportunities exist, if the policies are changed to favour foreign investments in airline activities, all global airlines including us will probably be interested."
"We will continue to look at ground handling and other opportunities in India. Our sister concern Dnata is keen to set up something new," the Emirates chief said.
However, Clark, like representatives of other foreign carriers, wanted the high landing, parking and navigation charges to be reduced and said the International Air Transport Association (IATA) had already raised the issue with the Indian government.
The Airport Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) "must not waste any time but deal with the problems (relating to high charges) urgently", Clark said.
He added that aviation has always been a "milch cow" for governments worldwide but the charges should not be so high as to compromise the bottomelines of the aviation industry.
23/04/09 PTI/Times of India

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Categories: Foreign Apr 2009