Dogfight looms as trade booms

Queensland will become a pivotal battleground over the next decade as Indian Airlines aggressively takes on aviation giants Qantas and Singapore Airlines to break their long-held monopoly into Mumbai and Delhi.
With the Indian economy rolling along at double-digit growth, Indian Airlines boss Anita Khurana yesterday met with Queensland's Tourism Minister, Margaret Keech, to discuss travel opportunities out of Brisbane.
Indian Airlines, like so many large companies in India, is expanding rapidly as wealthy middle-class Indians travel more.
India is also being courted by Victorian Premier Steve Bracks, who wants the Indian national carrier to set up direct flights from Melbourne to Delhi.
But Ms Keech said Queensland was trying to outmanoeuvre the Victorian Government.Ms Keech has been leading a 25-strong Queensland delegation throughout India over the past week.Ms Keech also met Qantas and Singapore Airlines bosses in Mumbai, explaining Queensland's five-point strategy to lure more Indians.
02/02/07 The Gold Coast Bulletin, Australia

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Categories: foreign feb 2007