Qantas To Start Mumbai Service From September

Qantas, after having applied to the International Air Services Commission for the rights to commence non-stop services from Australia to Mumbai in India and Shanghai in China have been granted the necessary permission. The executive general manager of Qantas Airlines, John Borghetti said that the Mumbai services would operate three times per week from 1 September 2004 on two-class Boeing 747-300 aircraft.

"This new services will, for the first time, operate non-stop to Mumbai, leaving Sydney on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and landing in Mumbai 11.5 hours later. The airline was also finalising plans to fly to Shanghai by the end of 2004. India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world and the burgeoning trade relationship between Australia and India has increased demand for business travel between our two countries," added Borghetti.

"In total, inbound passenger numbers from India to Australia are on the rise. We are very excited about renewing our long-standing relationship with India which began in the 1940s, when our services stopped over in Calcutta (Kolkata)," said Borghetti. He further added that the new services highlighted the fact that Qantas' international operations were recovering from the devastating impact of the Iraq war and SARS. Commenting on the tourism potential, Australian Tourist Commission (ATC) managing director, Ken Boundy said, "The new service to India and China will help stimulate tourism growth from these two emerging markets and help open future growth market for Australia. The new services will provide Indian travellers with the option to fly direct to Australia - significantly reducing travel time and increasing the appeal of Australia as a holiday destination." Qantas also recently announced that it will commence direct flights between Brisbane and Los Angeles from 14 June, the first time any airline has offered non-stop scheduled services on the route; fly non-stop between Perth and Hong Kong, and increase Brisbane-Hong Kong services, from next month; and increase capacity from Heathrow following the acquisition of two additional daily slots.