Buoyed by the response to its recently launched Delhi-Milan direct flight, Jet Airways is looking to expand to more European cities such as Rome and Amsterdam, as it aims to gain market share from the Gulf carriers.

?We are planning to start a Mumbai-Rome and Delhi-Rome service next year,? said Mr Naresh Goyal, Chairman, Jet Airways. This is subject to approvals and the delivery of the new aircraft by Airbus Industrie, for which the company is leasing 10 new A-330s aircrafts.

?As we add newer aircraft to our fleet over the next two years, we will connect to newer European cities such as Rome, Amsterdam and Paris,? Mr Goyal said. The company was looking to connect both Shanghai and Beijing in China with Manila.

Stating that the Delhi-Milan flight has got tremendous response especially from Italians, Mr Goyal said ?We expect to break-even this month (February), within two months of launching a new service,? Mr Goyal said.

Replying to a query on the plans to raise about $400 million through qualified institutional placement, Mr Goyal said the FIPB has sought some clarification, which the company has already replied to.

The company expects to use the ?proceeds from the proposed QIP to repay some of the debt so that our interest burden comes down,? Mr Goyal said.

The company is looking to rebrand its low cost carrier Jet Lite and make it Jet Konnect.?

Rebranding would help reduce confusion in the market place and also improve productivity and customer care,? Mr Goyal said.

?Our marketing department is working on the rebranding initiative,? Mr Goyal said without committing on a timeframe.

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