Indian carriers likely to expand capacity in 2007

Dubai, June 30 (UNI) Indian national carriers operating from Doha are likely to increase their seating capacities by early next year, a top official has said.

With the expected merger of Air India and Indian in March next year, the new entity would have over 100 aircraft and be able to compete better with private airlines, Doha's Gulf Times quoted country manager of Indian Thiruvalloor Vinod Kumar as saying.

''Benefits from the merger would be manifold and both the Indian airline industry and passengers would have numerous advantages once the procedures are completed,'' Mr Kumar said.

Besides avoiding the duplication of services seen at present in some sectors, it would also help considerably increase the seating capacities, he said adding that with the beginning of acquisition of a new aircraft in November, India-bound passengers from Qatar would have better facilities.

Indian has placed an order for 46 aircraft with Airbus and once the fleet expands it would be possible to have daily services to Mumbai and Chennai from Doha.

Mr Kumar said the airline carried a record 22,000 passengers on its daily Kozhikode-Kochi schedule in 2005-06 as compared to the previous year. The airline's revenue grew by 8.5 per cent during the fiscal.

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