CHENNAI: With Tata Sons’ takeover of Air India, travel and tour operators’ associations have urged the new management to restore the direct international flights the airline used to operate from Chennai and make the city a hub for southeast Asia flights like how Mumbai and Delhi are now hubs for Europe.
Air India used to fly from Chennai to Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Paris. The airline continues to hold its traditional slots at Chennai airport. There is potential to double the daily flights to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Hong Kong and to a few destinations in Europe.
The airline had stopped flying most of the domestic and international routes in the past 10 years. But the slots used by the airline are available, said an airport official.
As hopes are high, travel and tour operators’ associations – Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) and Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) have urged the new management to resume more flights from the city. At present, Air India Express operates ‘air bubble’ flights.
The TAAI in its message said the efficiency of the new management will help Air India “to exploit operating assets like lucrative routes to southeast Asia, Latin America and Australia. With simple improvements in consistency of service, Air India’s bilaterals are goldmines.”
The airline could use its slots available in congested foreign airports like London and New York, said TAAI national managing committee member P Murugesan.
Bhaskar, national committee member, TAFI, said travellers could have better options. “Hong Kong, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur flights have good demand. Business travellers will have a good option if flights to Europe are resumed.”
