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Virgin looking at South Indian destinations

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE NOV. 26. Britain's second largest long haul airline, Virgin Atlantic Airways Ltd., in which Singapore Airlines has a 49 per cent stake since 1999, at present operates three flights a week between Delhi and London under an agreement with Air India. According to Steve Ridgway, Chief Executive of the airline, Virgin is hoping to add Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore to its Indian destinations in the next couple of years. It will all depend on the outcome of the negotiations between the Indian and British governments, which may take place in early 2004.

Addressing the press here today, Mr. Ridgway pointed out that more Virgin flights to India would also benefit the Indian tourism industry, as a sister company in the group, Virgin Holidays was one of the biggest tour operators in the U.K., carrying in excess of 250,000 passengers annaully.

Virgin's London-Delhi-London flights, which commenced in July 2000, has achieved a market share of 15 per cent on this route now, says Suresh Nair, Head of Sales for India. The average load factor, which was 70 per cent in 2001 and 74 per cent in 2002, with two flights a week, is now averaging 80 per cent, despite adding a third flight in late October this year.

As of now, the 255-seater Airbus A340-300 is deployed in this sector. Considering the strong seat demand, says Andrew Fyfe, general manager for India, Virgin may soon start using on this sector the newly inducted Airbus A340-600 aircraft, which can carry 311 passengers. But this will depend on how soon Airbus can deliver the promised aircraft.

Virgin did participate in last year's Open Sky programme in India from February to June and carried an additional 8,000 passengers. However, this year's programme from December to February is too short a period for the airline to arrange the necessary extra aircraft, says Fyfe.

The past two years were a drag on the international aviation industry, mainly due to the faltering world economy and the fallout from the terror attack on New York. However, things have improved this year and Virgin Atlantic is back in the black, says Ridgway. In anticipation of a jump in air travel in the coming years, Virgin has ordered ten of the giant, 500 seater A380s from Airbus. The first one of these is expected to be delivered in 2006. The present fleet of the airline comprises 12 Boeing 747 - 400s, 10 Airbus A340-300s and five Airbus A340-600s.

Virgin Atlantic, which offloaded 49 per cent stake to Singapore Airlines in 1999, is already flying to 22 destinations in the U.S., Caribbean , Africa and Asia. Very soon, says Barry Humphreys , Director of External Affairs and Route Development, it will start flights to Sydney via Hong Kong.

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