Qantas direct Mumbai-Sydney flights soon

Airline major Qantas will operate direct services linking Sydney to Mumbai, beginning September this year in view of a double-digit spurt in the number of tourist arrivals from India.

Qantas will fly direct services between Mumbai and Sydney, three times per week and the Mumbai services would operate in two-class Boeing 747-300 aircraft. The services would commence from September 1, 2004, John Borghetti, executive general manager of Qantas Airlines, said in Sydney on Thursday.  

"Australia has seen a double-digit increase in the number of tourist arrivals from India over the past decade -- with an average annual growth of approximately 17 per cent, Maggie White, general manager, Australian Tourist Commission, South & South East Asia, said.

These new services connecting the two commercial capitals, for the first time, will operate non-stop to Mumbai, leaving Sydney on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

"India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the burgeoning trade relationship between Australia and India has increased demand for business travel between the two countries, Borghetti said.

Air-India is still looking at Australia, but it doesn't have aircraft at the moment to divert to this route, Air-India's manager in Sydney, Geeta Kapoor, who feels Qantas will probably enter into a code-share arrangement with Air-India, said.

"The move will strengthen our relationship and jointly we will pick more market share from other airlines. It is a positive sign for both and will increase economies and exchanges," Kapoor said.

Tourism is expected to be the immediate beneficiary from direct flights. "The announcement by Qantas to introduce new services to India will help stimulate tourism growth from this emerging market. The new services will provide Indian travellers with the option to fly direct to Australia, Australian Tourist Commission managing director Ken Boundy said.

Visitors from India increased by 32 per cent in December 2003, with 45,600 visitors to Australia last year. The Tourism Forecasting Council expects visitors from India to increase by 13.7 per cent (50,400 visitors) in 2004.

Welcoming the Qantas decision, Australia India Business Council said the Qantas decision was really excellent news for both Australia and India.

"The convenience of non-stop flights between the commercial capitals of Sydney and Mumbai will encourage significantly greater business contact between the two countries, which is sure to give a big boost to bilateral business in general, AIBC chairman Neville Roach said.