Indian Routes!!

Has been confirmed this morning that VS have been granted 10 flights a week to India from LHR. 7 flights to Delhi (thus ending the codeshare with Air India) and 3 flights a week to Mumbai/BOmbay.

VS told CAA that they could operate 7 flights to Delhi this winter so they have been granted and from Summer 2005 3 flights a week to mumbai.

BMI have been awarded the other 4 flights a week to Mumbai from LHR- thats a major breakthrough for BD!

BA have been given an extra 7 flights- 4 to Chennai and 3 to Bangalore!

I wonder if we will see a BD/VS codeshare on the Mumbai routes- would make sense!Persume BD will operate from t1.

Guessing they will use the 343 on both services.

[Pete]

News story here.

My two cents............

This decission does seem a bit harsh to VS.

As I understand (from this and other forums) VS have found difficulty attracting J traffic to Delhi due to the limited frequency they currently have.

So whilst this finally gives VS proper frequency to DEL, they find themselves in a similar predicament to BOM.

The winners here are clearly BA, with daily DEL, BOM services plus exclusive British rights to Bangalore and Chennai

My money was on VS getting DEL & BOM, with BMI/BA splitting Bangalore and Chennai.

With BMI not having the planes to even service the BOM 4 x weeekly, it also ensures in the meantime more BA exclusivity, and less competition.

strange decision me thinks......

is there any precedent on appeal to the CAA?

It does seem rather harsh for VS and everyone thought it would be harsh on BD! I personally believe that BA have a huge monopoly on routes to India and it is unfair!

BD rumour has it will be using 343 on the route although they need to get them very fast- with flights to America and Caribbean from MAN i think they my struggle.