The Hindu Business Line : Flights to Netherlands, Belgium to increase substantially

India has signed a memorandum of understanding updating the existing bilateral air services agreement with both these countries and this will witness an increase in direct air connectivity.

The new agreement allows designated airlines from Belgium to operate flights to both Chennai and Mumbai.

The agreement also allows the airlines of each country to operate 21 flights a week with their own aircraft or through a code-share agreement.

Besides, both the countries have decided to allow "unlimited number of frequencies" of freighter carriers to any point of call in each other's territory.

The agreement with Belgium also allows airlines from India to fly onwards within Europe after picking up passengers.

Similarly, the airline of Netherlands will now be allowed to operate flights to four cities including Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai.

Besides, the airline will have to choose on whether they would like to operate to either Chennai or Hyderabad.

The airlines of the two countries will be allowed to operate 21 weekly flights in each direction. However, the increase in the number of flights is to be in a phased manner. The airlines have been given permission to operate a daily service immediately and increase the number of flights to 14 a week from the winter schedule of 2005.

Worldwide the winter schedule of airline starts towards the end of October. Thereafter, the frequency can go up to 21 flights a week from summer schedule of 2006 that starts from the end March next year.

Both the countries have agreed to allow multiple designation of airlines, a move that should pave the way for not only Indian Airlines but also the two private sector airlines from India - Jet Airways and Air Sahara to operate flights to these two countries.

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Flights to Netherlands, Belgium to increase substantially