UK, India plan for more routes

THE British and Indian governments today started talks to open up the number of flights that airlines are allowed to make between the two countries.

British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and BMI were all disappointed after the previous round of negotiations last autumn led to only 40 of the lucrative routes to and from India being allowed. Virgin and BMI both failed in their appeals against the limited number of slots.

Today's talks, likely to end tomorrow or Thursday, could see a host of new routes, with one airline lobbyist suggesting the two sides may go as far as allowing total 'open skies' that would scrap all limits.

However, India is not likely to accept full open skies in the current round of talks as it is still only gradually liberalising its airlines industry. There are concerns in political circles in India that Air India would struggle to compete with rival operators from abroad.

The country only recently allowed Air India's local rivals, Jet Airways and Sahara Airlines, to fly internationally.

One UK airline source suggested India may allow a larger number of routes than in the previous round because demand for global travel is so high in Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad.