After UK, French press for more direct flights to New Delhi

Paris has mounted pressure on New Delhi for enhancing direct flights between the two countries in the light of doubling direct flights between India and UK recently. “A request to sign a new air service agreement has been received by the ministry from its French counterpart,” according to a civil aviation ministry source.

Confirming that the French civil aviation has mooted a proposal to sign a new agreement, Air France Asia Pacific executive vice-president and managing director Jean-Louis Pinson said, “The talks for the new agreement are likely to start by the end of this year.”

Commenting on the recent Indo-UK bilateral agreement which increased direct flights between the two countries from 19 per week to 40 per week, Mr. Pinson said, “That is why we have asked French authorities to negotiate with Indian parties. We do not want big gap (between designated carriers of two countries).” Air France and British Airways and Lufthansa are the three major competitors in Europe and are designated carriers of France, UK and Germany. Air France is currently operating 14 flights per week.

The airline is planning to penetrate south India. “Currently, we are operating daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai. We intend to introduce our flights from Chennai and Bangalore. It is expected after the new air service agreement between the two nations is signed,” Mr. Pinson said.

In the winter schedule, the airline is planning to increase capacity by 45% from Delhi by introducing a Boeing 747 in place of Airbus 340. While A 340 has a capacity of 250 seats, the capacity of B 747 is 400. “After the end of the peak season (i.e., in the summer season) we will re-introduce A 340,” he added.

The company has also decided to retain only two classes in aircraft flying in the sector. “Air France will fly only two types of aircraft to this sector, A-340 and B 747. Both will have only business and economy classes. First class configuration will be available only on B 777, which will be flying to destinations like Tokyo, Beijing, Hong Kong and Singapore,” Mr. Pinson said.

NEW DEHLI (Financial Express)

October 15, 2004   Posted in: Airlines & Railways