Sweden to upgrade Indian aviation infrastructure

New Delhi, May 6: Several Swedish companies have shown interest in upgrading Indian aviation infrastructure and developing human resource.

''We've huge competence in a range of aviation and aerospace related activities which can be used as India gears up to handle the boom in air travel,'' said Mr Lars Rekke who headed a business delegation accompanying Swedish foreign affairs Carl Bildt.

Representatives from the LFV group, Volvo Aero, BAE Systems, CNS systems, SAAB and Telewide AB met last week with senior officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Among the possible areas of mutual cooperation that came up for discussions included air traffic management systems, modernising 35 airports in non-metro cities and starting flights between the two countries.

''We could also train air traffic controllers which India needs badly to cope up with increasing flights,'' said Mr Rekke.

India faces an acute shortage of pilots, aircraft engineers and ground handling staff as the annual passenger market is set to reach 100 million by 2010 from 60 million now.

''Indian carriers can also use Stockholm as an aviation hub to connect southern cities with those in Europe and the United States.'' Swedish carrier Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) stopped flying to India after air travel dipped following 9/11 terror attacks in United States. No Indian carrier flies to Sweden.

UNI