The Hindu Business Line : Open Skies: Foreign airlines fly in, tourists queue up

NEW DELHI: Within just a few months after India signed 'Open Skies' policy with the US and the UK, major international airlines are queuing up to operate flights to India with irresistible offers such as lower airfares and direct non-stop flights.

The tourism ministry is hoping to attract around four million foreign tourists this year and about 10 million tourist by the end of 2010. It is the 'Open Skies' policy that will cater to this rush combined with a booming economy.

"Ninety-five per cent of the foreign tourist arrivals in India is by air, and the 'Open Skies' policy will act as an air bridge," said Mr Subash Goyal, President, Indian Association of Tour Operators.

The 'Open Skies' agreement was signed in April replacing the decades-old agreements, which restricted the flights, the destinations and the airfares and the results are showing.

Continental Airlines is offering a non-stop round trip flight between New Delhi and Newark for just around Rs 40,000, American airlines is starting flights to India for almost the same price in November and the competition is just hotting up with domesti c airlines such as Jet Airways and Sahara being given permission to operate flights to the US and the UK.

"It is not just the foreign tourists coming to India that will fuel the growth of air traffic, large number of students IT professionals and tourists from India will take advantage of this liberalised environment," said Gagan Uberoi, Director of a travel company. - PTI

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