The Hindu Business Line : Air France-KLM bullish on Indian market

FLYING HIGH: (From left) Mr Harm Kreulen, Vice-President and Area Manager, Asia Pacific, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines; Ms Pat Epting, Managing Director, Atlantic Region, Northwest Airlines; Mr Paul Gregorowitsch, Executive Vice-President, Commercial, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines; Mr Warner Rootliep, General Manager-India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Maldives, Air France, KLM, Northwest, and Mr Jean Louis Pinson, Senior Vice-President, Asia Pacific, Air France, at a press conference in the Capital on Friday. — Kamal Narang

New Delhi June 22 The Air France-KLM combine is bullish on the growth prospects in the Indian market and plans to invest in new aircraft, more flights, new destinations and intellectual capital.

To increase flights

"The Asia-Pacific region, that includes India, is a strategic region for us. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has predicted that by 2010, the Asia-Pacific region will over take North Americas in terms of number of passengers flying. We plan to not only introduce larger aircraft but also look to operate daily flights to those destinations where we do not have a daily service at present. Besides, where we have a daily service, we could look at going to a double daily service," said the Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, Asia Pacific, Air France, Mr Jean-Louis Pinson.

Air France and KLM currently operate flights to various destinations here including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad.

Airbus A-380

Air France is also examining the possibility of operating the Airbus A-380 aircraft, the world's largest passenger aircraft, on the India route by 2010, Mr Pinson said. The airline combine would continue to invest in the human capital that the country has, he added.

Air France and KLM merged in 2004 to create Europe's leading airline.

The combine, that is also a member of Skyteam, an alliance of 10 global airlines, is also in touch with airlines from India to join.

Skyteam

"It is an open game for an airline from India to join the Alliance. We have close contact with Indian and Air India and are waiting for them to implement the merger process. Besides, we are also in talks with Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines. No decision has yet been taken on an airline joining the grouping," Mr Pinson said.

The two airlines are working towards replacing paper tickets with e-tickets by the end of the year, officials said. "The Asia-Pacific accounts for 33 per cent of all the worldwide Web users and, therefore, we are keen to go in for e-ticketing," officials said.