The Chairman of Air India, K. Roy Paul, will meet with Skyteam leaders in
Paris from September 30 - October 2 to discuss the invitation that has been
extended to Air India to seek admission into the alliance.
Air India recently posted a strong operational profit for Q1 of their
financial year, after being one of the few international airlines to post a
profitable FY 2001.
Air India currently operates daily service from India to New York JFK via
London Heathrow, as well as thrice weekly service to Chicago O'Hare also
through Heathrow. They will launch a third US gateway with commencement of
thrice weekly flights to Newark via Paris CDG from December 7, and are
seeking to commence operations to Los Angeles from 2003. The airline
currently serves 23 international destinations in Asia, Europe, North America
and Africa from 12 Indian gateways with a fleet of 27 widebody aircraft. All
flights to North America are operated by 3-class Boeing 747-437 aircraft. A
new Business Class is expected to be unveiled for launch of Newark service in
December. Air India already codeshares with Skyteam member Air France on
numerous routes to/from Paris CDG.
Mr. Roy Paul held talks with Rod Eddington of British Airways last week
regarding a similar invitation from the OneWorld alliance.
Yeh mera India! Fly the Maharajah!
I love my India ( in Hindi)
Leo/ORD
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