The UK and India have today (9 February 2017) agreed to ease
restrictions on the number of scheduled flights between the two
countries, following successful talks in India this week.
Limits on flights from key Indian cities including Chennai and
Kolkata have been scrapped, allowing for a greater range of
flights for passengers while providing a boost to trade and
tourism for the UK and India. Building new links with important
trading partners is a key part of the government’s plans for a
Global Britain, opening up new export markets and creating jobs
and economic growth.
India is a rapidly expanding and important market for aviation
and the agreement signed today will allow airlines to develop new
services and routes.
Aviation Minister said:
India is one of our closest allies and key trading partners and
this new agreement will only serve to strengthen this crucial
relationship. We are unlocking new trade and tourism
opportunities which will boost our economies, create new jobs
and open up new business links. This is great news for both the
UK and India and is yet another sign that we are open for
business and ready to build and strengthen our trade links.
With about 2.5 million passengers flying direct between the UK
and India each year, and 88 scheduled services per week in each
direction between the two countries, the agreement today will
open up even more routes and opportunities.
Indian Civil Aviation Minister Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju
said:
The increase in number of flights between the UK and India is
encouraging news for our businesses and tourists. We already
enjoy strong ties with the UK and we welcome such continued
association which in the long run will not only encourage
business activity, but also people-to-people contact. I am sure
that this agreement will bring direct and indirect benefits to
many sectors of the economies of our two countries.
Tourism from India makes an important contribution to the UK
economy. In 2015, there were 422,000 visits from India to the UK,
bringing more than £433 million to the economy.
The agreement was formally signed during a visit to India by Lord
Ahmad, where he led a delegation of British companies for the
2017 CAPA India Aviation Summit. The Cabinet Minister of Civil
Aviation, Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju, signed on behalf of
India.
Meeting with the Cabinet Minister for Civil Aviation Mr Pusapati
Ashok Gajapathi Raju, Minister of State at the Ministry of Civil
Aviation Mr Jayant Sinha, and India’s leading airlines, UK
Aviation Minister Lord Ahmad encouraged Indian businesses to
partner with UK aerospace companies to capitalise Britain’s
world-class aviation expertise.
The final decision on additional flights between the UK and India
is a commercial one for airlines.
