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Singapore
wants 212 more weekly flights to India
G GANAPATHY SUBRAMANIAM
TIMES NEWS NETWORK-MONDAY, MARCH 28, 2005 11:50:49 PM
The
Economic Times
NEW DELHI: Flights of fancy,
you may say but Singaporeans seem to feel that dreaming
real big is good for business. Marking a new high in India's
aviation history, Singapore has sought permission to launch
212 more flights a week to India over the next two years.
This is over and above
the 52 weekly flights now operated by Singapore Airlines
(SIA) and its subsidiary SilkAir to connect various cities
in India to Singapore.
This is the highest number
of frequencies proposed by any country in a bilateral
civil aviation consultation with India.
Apart from SIA-SilkAir
duo, JetStar Asia of Singapore, a low-cost player, now
plans to launch services to India. Another low-cost carrier
based in Singapore, Tiger, is also waiting in the wings.
From the Indian side, Jet Airways and Air Sahara are planning
to add seven flights a week to Singapore this summer.
The proposal was discussed
between the civil aviation authorities of India and Singapore
earlier this month. While confirming the astonishing number
of additional flights demanded by Singapore authorities,
civil aviation secretary, Ajay Prasad said that India
could not accept the proposal due to various reasons.
The move comes at a time
private sector players, Jet Airways and Air Sahara are
preparing to launch flights to Singapore.
The issue may be discussed
during the next round of India-Singapore bilateral negotiations.
The sheer magnitude of the number has rattled the Indian
airline companies while even officials of the civil aviation
ministry are amazed by the super ambitious expansion plan.
The demand from the island-nation
is probably being driven by the proposed India-Singapore
free trade agreement (FTA) with Singapore which is expected
to be converted into a comprehensive economic co-operation
agreement in the years to come.
Already, the government has opted for a limited open skies
agreement with Asean, allowing designated airlines from
members of this group, considerable freedom to launch
services to India.
"The Singapore team
seemed quite confident that the proposal for 212 additional
weekly flights would be accepted", officials of the
civil aviation ministry said.
Till now, Indian Airlines and Air-India are the only Indian
carriers to fly to Singapore.
Apart from Singapore, the
civil aviation ministry is now in talks with Hong Kong
and China for liberalisation of air services. While a
formal agreement with the China is expected during the
forthcoming visit of Chinese premier, Wen Jiabo, talks
with Hong Kong are inconclusive.
India is looking for rights
to operate onward flights from Hong Kong to the west coast
of the US and Canada. Similarly, Hong Kong is looking
for operating west-bound flights from India to destinations
like the Gulf and Europe.
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