Newstrack

Island Aviation Services to increase connections in India

Chetan Kapoor - Mumbai

Maldives national carrier Island Aviation Services, which began its Indian operations in late January 2008 is pursuing adding more routes in India. "Before we began our operations, Air India would connect India to Maldives," said Bandhu I Saleem, managing director, Island Aviation Services, "Our entry into India by operating daily flights to Thiruvananthapuram from Male' is a sign of increasing trade and improving relations in the SAARC region."

The carrier is looking at connecting Chennai - because of the increasing number of medical tourists - as well as Kochi and Kolkata by early 2009. The airline currently operates a 50-seater turboprop aircraft between Male' and Thiruvananthapuram and has placed an order for A320 to operate on the Indian routes revealed Saleem.