Jet Airways hopes to bring on line a stream of new international routes over the next 18 months to Europe, the USA and into south-east Asia, as the Indian government signs increasingly liberal bilaterals with a variety of countries.

Although the airline’s primary focus will continue to be on its profitable domestic operations, Jet is aiming to move to three daily frequencies between Mumbai and London Heathrow by the end of 2006, says chairman Naresh Goyal. At present, the government has allowed it one daily service, which it started serving with two-class Airbus A340-300s in late May, while four A330s arrive on lease from ILFC from May next year. The carrier is also poised to begin a daily Mumbai-Brussels-New York Newark service.

By the end of 2006, Goyal wants to have begun services to another UK airport and to more cities in south-east Asia. Other European cities and destinations in Africa and China are also on Jet’s radar.

Source: Airline Business