From Dallas Fort Worth in the US to Brisbane in Australia and from Copenhagen in Europe to Guangzhou in China, airports around the world where no Indian carriers operate, at present, are rolling out the red carpet to welcome airlines from the country. While a part of this interest has to do with India and China emerging as the new growth centres, airports across the globe also have specific reasons for showing such an interest in airlines from India.

Hence, Copenhagen is open to providing up to five year discounts on landing and passenger charges to airlines from India if they increase tourist arrivals, and Dallas Fort Worth feels that it will provide an excellent opportunity to airlines from India to tap into the visiting friends and relatives segment and business community which dominate the Texas area. Similarly, Head of Network and Traffic Development, Domodedovo, Moscow International Airport, Mr Andrey Kapinos feels that with relations between India and Russia growing and many Indian projects coming up there this will be the right time for airlines to explore options of flying to Moscow.

Pay for numbers carried

Brisbane airport too, is keen to be part of the growth which travel between India and Australia has seen and is offering airlines operating there a scheme by which they only pay for the numbers carried rather than by the weight of the aircraft. “The Indian market grew for us by 50 per cent last year. The numbers are not very huge right now at about 60,000 but they are growing,” says Mr Cam Macphee, Aviation Business Development Manager, Brisbane airport.

According to Ms Tammy Tan, Director, Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport Company Ltd, the airport is keen to invite the state-owned low cost airline Air India Express to operate flights to the region. While the airports admit that it may be sometime before airlines from India begin operations, most of them used the opportunity of the recently held Routes conference to talk with Jet Airways, Kingfisher and Air India on starting operations.

Direct connectivity

As Mr Ashutosh Mehere, Vice-President, FIT, Cox and Kings, points out the Indian traveller is getting adventurous and looking for new destinations and experiences. “They would prefer travelling to these destinations if there was a direct flight. Historically, direct connectivity has boosted arrivals from India; the recent example being that of Turkey.

“With direct connectivity between India and Turkey firmly established over the last one year, we have seen a sudden growth and popularity of Turkey as a destination,” he added.