Monday, January 14, 2008

Jet Airways Looks For Approval From China

Beijing: China and the US are set to be linked by an Indian carrier for the first time, if Jet Airways is approved by the Chinese authorities to fly its proposed Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco route. This would also be the first direct flight link between the commercial capitals of India and China, two of the world''s fastest growing economies. Under a bilateral civil aviation pact inked in April 2005, during Chinese Premier, Mr Wen Jiabao''s visit to India, the airlines of both countries are permitted to operate up to 42 weekly flights between the two nations. However, while Chinese carriers already boast a combined 18 weekly flights, India''s Air India only runs four flights a week. During a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing on Jan 12 afternoon, the Commerce Minister, Mr Kamal Nath, brought up Jet''s case as a concern, arguing that Beijing should de-link it from the Great Wall Airline issue. In addition to daily flights between Mumbai and Shanghai, Jet also plans to link Beijing with Mumbai, as well as New Delhi.

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