Date:02/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/02/stories/2007090256191000.htm

National

Chennai-Europe flights to be introduced

Ravi Sharma

Bangalore: Air India, or ‘The National Aviation Company of India’ to give it its official name after the merger of the two national carriers, the erstwhile Air India and Indian, will shortly introduce direct flights between Chennai and some European destinations. Currently Air India’s flights from Chennai to Europe are via Mumbai.

Disclosing this to The Hindu the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India V. Thulasidas said that direct flights could become a possibility in the near future, and would depend on the availability of aircraft. “We are evaluating the possibility.”

Mr. Thulasidas, who spoke on the sidelines of a ceremony marking the signing of a protocol between the Royal Aeronautical Society and the Aeronautical Society of India, however ruled out, for the present, the possibility of direct flights between Chennai and the United States. Currently Air India only operates direct flights to the U.S. from Mumbai.

But even this is set to change with Air India launching a non stop Delhi-New York service from January 7, 2008. Commenting on the Mumbai-New York service, the CMD said: “The flight is at a very convenient time, passengers have said that there is practically no jet lag and we even have our own lounge at JFK Airport. Besides we have also taken a lounge facility at The Lounge for the benefit of our passengers.”

He also disclosed that Air India will shortly, after the launch of the Delhi-New York operations, launch a non stop Bangalore-San Francisco service. The service will most likely take off after the commissioning of the new international airport at Bangalore next April. Both sectors are to be served by Air India’s Boeing 777-200 LR (long haul) aircraft. Air India is also likely to launch a service to Australia (but via Singapore).

Stressing the importance of Bangalore, which he said would become “a major hub” for Air India in the years to come, Mr. Thulasidas said that the airline had already acquired eight acres of land close to the new International airport to construct airline offices, cargo handling and even rental commercial space.