The Hindu Business Line : Virgin may take up open sky offer

VIRGIN Atlantic Airways (VAA) plans to make use of the concessions being offered to international airlines during the forthcoming limited open sky offer by the Government.

"Virgin will probably take up the offer of the Indian Government. However, the shape and size of what we plan to do is under discussion at the moment. Several issues, including aircraft availability, will have to seen before a final decision is taken on launching flights during the limited open sky offer," the VAA General Manager, India, Mr Andrew Fyfe, told Business Line.

Senior airline officials said that although Virgin is keen to operate more flights to India, it is unlikely to start operating a double daily to the country under the open sky policy.

The Government is to follow a limited time open sky policy from November 1 to March 31. During this period, international airlines will be allowed to operate either additional flights or bring in larger aircraft on their flights to and from India.

Meanwhile, Virgin's code-share agreement with Air India is coming to an end from the winter schedule this year.

However, senior airline officials said that the move would make no difference to what was on offer to the passengers in the market. The airline entered the Indian market on a code-share agreement with AI in July 2000 and currently operates three flights a week on the London-Delhi-London sector.

Welcoming the recent successful conclusion of the India-UK bilateral air services talks, officials said that it was still too early to comment on what impact the increase in flights between the two nations would have on airfares.

"There is little doubt that the consumer will benefit from the phased increase in the number of direct flights between India and the UK. What impact the doubling of direct flights between India and UK will have on fares will depend on when airlines actually add more flights," officials said.