Stuttgart Airport woos Indian carriers for direct flights

Mumbai: Stuttgart is gunning for direct international flights from India in a bid to boost its commercial and tourism ties with the country. Stuttgart Airport representatives, part of a larger delegation from the city that has been visiting Mumbai annually for the past few years now, met with Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines’ officials respectively, initiating dialogue for starting direct flights to Stuttgart by 2008. Stuttgart airport is looking at the possibility of about five to seven flights per week for each of the two airlines. Interestingly, while Stuttgart receives flights from 35 countries worldwide, India could be the first Asian country to operate direct flights to the German city if the negotiations fructify. It could also well be one of Kingfisher's first targets once it starts its now imminent international operations, as the current restriction of five years operation is likely to be amended. Andreas Ley, manager, traffic development and market research, Stuttgart Airport, told Express TravelWorld in an exclusive, "We are currently talking to Kingfisher and Jet Airways regarding operating direct flights from Mumbai and Bangalore to Stuttgart Airport. We receive 13,000 Indian travellers a year - figure that can grow much faster if there are direct flights available. Stuttgart hosts several key B2B conventions and exhibitions. We reckon we have a potential catchment of over 33,000 Indian passengers, which could be higher when the direct flights start.
The possibility of convenient onward connection to the US could take that figure even higher. We are in fact also recommending that these carriers be granted fifth freedom rights by Germany's civil aviation ministry." Ley added that the airlines are most likely to operate an Airbus A330 or its equivalent in the initial stage and then upgrade to the A340. Currently, within Europe Jet Airways operates flights twice daily to London.
17/02/07 Bhisham Mansukhani/Express TravelWorld

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: airports feb 2007, foreign feb 2007