Airlines from India should look at operating flights to new international destinations rather than concentrating on traditional cities such as London and Paris, the Minister of Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, said on Tuesday.

“I would nudge airlines to look at opening new routes. The decision of Jet Airways to start a flight between Delhi-Toronto is one example of this although this route is already serviced by Air India. However, there are several other routes that can be explored as a number of international airlines fly to India although no Indian airlines operate to these countries.

“This could be an opportunity for airlines. Earlier when Air India was a small airline it would connect to more cities. Now although the airline has grown but its route network has shrunk,” Mr Patel said.

The Minister was participating in a function organised on the eve of the launch Jet Airways five-times-a-week flight connecting Delhi with Toronto.

Jet’s expansion plan

Addressing the meeting, the Chairman of Jet Airways, Mr Naresh Goyal, said the airline was keen to expand its presence in the global market. “The airline has a hub in Brussels and is examining the option of another. Besides, the airline plans to launch flights to Vancouver, San Francisco (through Shanghai) and John F. Kennedy airport in New York. We would also be connecting flights from cities like Amritsar, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad and Kolkata among others,” he added.

Asked whether the proposed Government decision to relax the norms for allowing more Indian airlines to operate abroad would affect its fortunes, Mr Goyal said: “We were born out of competition and are not concerned about it.”

“We are on schedule and would announce plans of a cargo airline by the end of the year. We are in talks with a number of carriers.” Mr Goyal said.