The Hindu Business Line : UK sector not viable, feels Indian

Airline plans
A committee will visit Australia, South Africa, London and Hong Kong shortly to meet the airport business people.
A final decision would be taken after the panel's report.

New Delhi , Oct. 5

Indian is re-evaluating the option of operating flights to the UK and is instead examining the viability of flying to Hong Kong, South Africa or Australia. The airline plans to use the Airbus A-330 aircraft that it would be leasing to operate these new flights.

"The yields on the India-UK route are falling and it may not be financially viable for us to launch flights to Heathrow just yet. However, the financial yields on other sectors including Johannesburg and Australia are much better. The airline could look at operating there with the two leased Airbus A-330 aircraft," a senior airline official said.

While the number of airline operating direct non-stop flights between India and the UK has increased to six from just two airlines a few years back, the number of airlines operating non-stop flights to either Australia or South Africa is limited. On the India-Australia route, the only airline offering non-stop services is Qantas.

A committee from the commercial department of Indian is to visit Australia, South Africa, London and Hong Kong shortly to meet with the airport operators, travel agents and others connected with the airline business. A final decision on which routes the Airbus A-330 aircraft should be deployed would be taken after the committee's report has been analysed, airline officials added.

The airline is likely to offer comprehensive packages if a decision is taken to operate flights to South Africa, sources indicated.

Indian is likely to have little difficulty in implementing its plans as the Government has already designated the carrier to operate flights to Australia, UK, Canada and the US, among others.

The airline, however, is unlikely to be able to operate flights to these new destinations before the start of the next winter season as the first aircraft is scheduled to be delivered in June next year while the second aircraft would arrive in October.