The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : `Direct Delta service to New York timely'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 24, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

`Direct Delta service to New York timely'

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, DEC. 23. With the Airports Authority of India (AAI) projecting a passenger growth of 5.1 per cent at the Anna international terminal here, the United States-based Delta Airlines' proposal to operate a daily West-bound service from May 11 next has buoyed up the travel trade.

"The AAI sees a positive trend in international passenger traffic growth and Chennai as the gateway of south India is fast emerging as a vital hub with more international carriers planning to enhance the frequency of their operations. The airport handled 2.2 million passengers this fiscal year, following the opening up of the SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) skies to private airlines, besides the open door policy for decongesting the Mumbai and New Delhi airports," said R. J. Treasuryvala, Chennai airport director.

"Chennai has been waiting for this positive development for quite some time (the Delta Airlines' decision to offer a direct service to New York with a convenient stopover in Paris)," said N. R. Kumar, southern regional chapter chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India.

N. Ramji, president, Tamil Nadu chapter, Travel Agents Federation of India, said the Delta service was not only convenient to destinations in the United States but also a vital link to Paris.

The Delta Airlines, first Sky Team (global alliance) member airline, will become the 14th foreign carrier to operate out of the Anna terminal.

"This new link will give globetrotters in India more value via two gateways — Charles de Gaulle in Paris and JFK in New York — which provide connections to destinations across Europe, Africa, Latin America and the U.S., " said Dieter Hofele, general manager-India, Delta Airlines.

Air India `dormant'

Travel trade sources, while expressing happiness over the new U.S. link, are disappointed that Air India is still in "slumber", citing capacity constraints.

According to AI sources here, the airliner now operates 25 services a week linking Chicago, New York, New Jersey and Los Angeles with Mumbai, besides 16 flights a week to London and 11 weekly flights to Frankfurt and seven services a week to Paris.

D. Sudhakara Reddy, president, Air Passengers' Association of India, said it was time AI fulfilled the need for twice-a-week non-stop service to New York from Chennai. Unlike the major European carriers, IA was yet to see the potential of the southern gateway, he said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section

Perungudi getting facelift, thanks to IT boom

`Direct Delta service to New York timely'

`Rainwater harvesting excellent way of recharging groundwater'

Stalin blamed for `irregularities'

Police launch helpline for the mentally ill

Faulty radars delay flights

Send greetings sans card

High drama at Ripon Buildings

Special train to Melmaruvathur