Mumbai: International traffic to/from India has been a strong and steady performer, growing at close to 12 per cent per annum over the last eight years since the market was liberalised. This growth is driving opportunities for global airlines and airports. The second session on ‘India Market Strategies for Foreign Airlines & Airports’ at the CAPA (Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation) India Aviation Summit 2012, held at Taj Mahal Palace hotel in Mumbai today, discussed alternative India market strategies for international airlines and airports. Debating on the topic were Adel Ali, Group CEO, Air Arabia, and Kerrie Mather, CEO, Sydney Airport. The session was moderated by Nik Gowing of the BBC World.
Kicking off the session, Mather said, “India is currently Australia's largest unserved route with no direct flights between India and Australia. In 2011, Sydney recorded 120,000 visitors on the Delhi-Sydney route and 60,000 passengers on the Mumbai-Sydney route. This is enough to fill four daily direct flights. We are currently seeing a double digit growth in traffic from India to Sydney. Asian and Middle-Eastern carriers are taking advantage of this traffic between both countries through their hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai, etc. Direct services between India and Sydney would lead to significant growth in traffic.”
30/10/12 Lyandra D'souza/Travel Biz Monitor
