The Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad Airways is keen to expand its presence in India by flying to more cities and also increasing flights to some of the existing destinations that it operates to, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr James Hogan, said on Wednesday.

“We would like to start operations to emerging cities like Kozhikode, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Amritsar and Chennai. After the airports in Delhi and Mumbai have been upgraded we would also like to be permitted to operate more flights to these two cities,” Mr Hogan told Business Line.

The airline is currently utilising all its entitlements under the bilateral agreement and is awaiting the holding of air services bilateral talks between India and the UAE to increase its reach in the country. “Ideally we would like to operate a daily flight to any city. If, however, we are constrained by the bilaterals then the airline would start by operating three-to-four times a week,” Mr Hogan added.

The airline currently operates 21 flights a week to India including a daily service to both Delhi and Mumbai apart from connecting Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi.

During the current visit apart from meeting the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, the airline CEO would also be meeting with senior Government officials to impress on the need for air services bilaterals to be held at the earliest.

“The start of more flights is good not only for the economy, but also helps generate tourism and create employment,” Mr Hogan added.