New Delhi, Jan 08: With the issue of a proper slot for Air India at Heathrow still hanging fire, India and Britain today agreed to increase direct flight connectivity with New Delhi insisting on requisite slots for the Indian carrier.
At a meeting here with British secretary of state for
trade and industry Patricia Hewitt, civil aviation minister
Shahnawaz Hussain said New Delhi would be happy to provide
additional frequencies to British airways on a reciprocal
basis if requisite slots at Heathrow Airport were granted to
Air India, ministry officials said.
They said the two sides agreed to discuss various
modalities at the levels of government, airlines and aiports
to achieve this objective within a short time.
Hewitt and Hussain also stressed the need for making all
out efforts to further strengthen cooperation between civil
aviation authorities and the industry of the two countries.
The visiting delegation informed Hussain that British
companies were also interested in providing latest technology
and participating in the on-going efforts for upgrading of
aviation facilities in India.
Bureau Report
