Foreign airlines in Kolkata look to middle east, SE for traffic

Kolkata: At a time when several foreign airlines have closed shop in Kolkata, Air Asia has announced that it's starting a daily flight to Kuala Lumpur from Thursday. This comes on the heels of UAE's national carrier Emirates increasing its number of flights from Kolkata to Dubai from seven to 12 from December 3.
But Kolkata has lost many other airlines, and the city has lost its link with many international destinations. British Airways flew for the last time from Kolkata to London in March, after 80 years of service. In April, Gulf Air too left the city after operating for three years. The city no longer has a direct flight to London, which has brought down passenger traffic at an already low-profile Netaji Subash Chandra Bose International Airport. On an average, there are 3,000 international passengers entering and exiting Kolkata on a daily basis.
Air India's flight to London goes via Delhi as the airline too discontinued its direct flight in October 2008.
"British Airways was facing a dip in traffic, which could have been the reason behind their decision to leave the city," said FC Oraon, deputy general manager (APT), Airports Authority of India.
One reason why Emirates has increased its flights could be that Dawoodi Bohra community's 99-year-old spiritual leader, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb, may visit the city in the middle of December to inaugurate a mosque at Topsia.
International traffic is getting heavily tilted towards
20/11/09 Lavina Mangat/Financial Express

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Categories: Airports Nov 2009, Foreign Nov 2009