Foreign carriers will paint Indian skies red

“By boosting connectivity for Indian travellers from key gateways, our aviation group responds to the encouraging demand trends in this strategic market,” said Axel Hilgers, Lufthansa’s South Asia Director. Malaysian low-fare international carrier, AirAsia Berhad last week declared that it would “rock and paint the Indian skies red” by adding six direct flights to five new destinations in the country.

AirAsia’s move to add Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and

Delhi to its existing portfolio of Indian cities is part of a growing trend. Foreign airlines are cautiously adding capacity on their India routes over the next six months, after having burnt their fingers in early 2009, a year that goes into the history as the worst year the industry has ever seen”.

Among airlines that are increasing their presence in India are Singapore Airlines (adding three flights a week), Austrian Airlines (one flight a week), Emirates Airlines (eight a week), Qatar Airways (seven a week), Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd (four new flights in May and three in July) and Deutsche Lufthansa AG’s Swiss International Air Lines Ltd (two a week).