The Hindu Business Line : Continental Air plans services to Mumbai

The American airline, Continental Airline, could look at operating a non-stop flight between Mumbai and Newark (New York) during 2009 after the airline takes delivery of the yet-to-be launched Boeing aircraft, the Boeing 787.

"We hope to be able to serve Mumbai. It makes sense to link the financial capital of India with the financial capital of the US with a direct flight. However, it is highly unlikely that we would look to operate this flight until 2009 when we take delivery of the Boeing 787 aircraft," said the Airlines Manager Corporate Sales, Mr Gary Clark. The airline that launched non-stop flights between Newark in New York and Delhi in October last year is very happy at the high passenger loads that the flight has been reporting since its inception. "The flight has beaten all our expectations and has been enjoying a passenger load factor of more than 85 per cent from the first day. It has been nearly profitable from the first say," said Mr Clark.

In talks with airlines here

While the launch of another non-stop flight by the airline may be some time away, it is in discussions with several airlines of India to provide the passenger access to more points in India. "At the moment our Corporate Development team is in talks with a number of airlines in India to have either a code-share agreement or at forming some sort of an alliance" Mr Clark added.