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Australian
Aviation Delegation
to
Visit India for
Tie-ups Avenues
India and Australia
have recently
discussed the
possibility of
a high-level aviation
and infrastructure
delegation visiting
India either later
in 2008 or early
in 2009, according
to Australia's
Minister for Infrastructure,
Transport Anthony
Albanese.
This was the outcome
of a meeting that
Albanese had during
his meeting with
India's Minister
for Civil Aviation
Praful Patel.
“Minister
Patel and I discussed
a range of issues
important to both
countries, including
air services;
opportunities
for Australian
companies to contribute
to aviation and
airport infrastructure
development in
India; international
efforts to reduce
greenhouse emissions;
and cooperation
in the areas of
transport security
and aviation safety.
There are enormous
opportunities
for Australian
companies to assist
India as it moves
to invest around
A$500 billion
in infrastructure
development over
the next five
years.
In particular,
as one of the
world's fastest
developing economies
India's demand
for domestic and
international
aviation services
is booming, with
hundreds of new
airports likely
to be built in
coming years.
A high level government
and business delegation
to India would
bring a greater
focus on the practical
ways we could
assist in developing
India's aviation
infrastructure.
Between March
2007 and March
2008, more than
half a million
passengers travelled
between Australia
and India - and
the market is
growing rapidly.
According to the
Australian Forecasting
Committee, Indian
visitor numbers
to Australia is
expected to more
than triple by
2016.
At present, no
Indian airlines
fly direct to
Australia, although
this may change
once Air India
and Indian Airlines
have completed
their merger -
or other Indian
carriers give
further consideration
to the Australia/India
market.
Jet Airways currently
markets seats
on Qantas services
operating between
Singapore and
main Australian
gateway airports.
Air India currently
code shares on
several Malaysia
Airlines' services
operating between
Kuala Lumpur and
Melbourne.
Qantas operates
three weekly services
between Sydney
and Mumbai and
code shares on
services operated
by Indian carrier,
Jet Airways, between
Singapore/Delhi
and Singapore/Mumbai.
The majority of
traffic between
Australia and
India currently
travels on third
country airlines
via intermediate
hubs such as Singapore,
Bangkok and Kuala
Lumpur.
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