Airish From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 259 posts, RR: 1 Posted (4 years 3 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 759 times:
I was would be interested to know if there has been any movement on the UK India Bilateral talks since the ministers visit to the UK. I know that Air India wants to add a Delhi London and Mumbai London flights.
http://www.airindia.com/article.asp?articleid=251
And I also heard that slots may not be part of the agreement
Jasepl From India, joined Jul 2004, 3582 posts, RR: 44 Reply 2, posted (4 years 3 months 2 days ago) and read 712 times:
AFAIK the flight can be added even under the current agreement, since AI uses only 15 of its 16 slots (??)..
Yeah, but they've leased 3 sets of frequencies to Virgin, so that's something to consider.
As for the bilateral re-negotiation, I hope I'm proved wrong, but I wouldn't hold my breath. Just as with so many things governments of India say, the wonderful new minister's sound bites on the bilateral might end up being just that: all talk and no action.
Mrniji From India, joined Feb 2004, 5594 posts, RR: 56 Reply 3, posted (4 years 3 months 2 days ago) and read 713 times:
Just as with so many things governments of India say, the wonderful new minister's sound bites on the bilateral might end up being just that: all talk and no action.
Just for my interest: I am just wondering whether the Indian side is to be blamed alone for the unsuccessful talks, or did the stubbornness of teh British - i.e. constrained slots and rights - contribute to this too? Does someone have insider knowledge about positions, procedure during negotiations, agreements, disagreements and reasons for failure?? I just can't believe India to be blamed alone
"The earth provides enough resources for everyone's need, but not for some people's greed." (Gandhi)
Airish From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 259 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (4 years 3 months 22 hours ago) and read 638 times:
Of course with BMI wanting flights to India, it might be the case that BMI gets permitted from Manchester and Virgin loses out as it is seems that Air India is trying to get there next agreement after Lufthansa with BMI.
I also interested to see if the Indian side has some blame because other airlines have managed to get slots at London Heathrow. But they may not be peak time slots and Air India may only be after peak time slots. It would be nice to know what time of day Air India wants these slots to be at because it would seem logical for them to link JFK and ORD flights.
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Airish From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 259 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 505 times:
Thanks Sean for confirming what the additional slots at LHR are as it had me thinking for a minute that AI had suddenly got some more slots at LHR in top of the Saturday one.
What do you think the chances are of keeping the ORD flights that go via LHR considering the latest UK transit visa requirements. Might we see these slots being used for terminator flights instead and all the ORD flights going via Frankfurt.
Best airlines are from India vis Air India Indian Airlines Indus Air Spice Jet
B747-437B From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 10, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 498 times:
What do you think the chances are of keeping the ORD flights that go via LHR considering the latest UK transit visa requirements. Might we see these slots being used for terminator flights instead and all the ORD flights going via Frankfurt.
I don't know and I don't want to speculate without any knowledge. The London-Chicago flights have strong fifth freedom traffic so I doubt they would be willing to give that up, but the combination of transit issues, Frankfurt concentration and extra slots may just make it attractive enough.
Airish From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 259 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 1 day 15 hours ago) and read 493 times:
Thanks for that Sean. It is nice to know that AI is doing well on the fifth freedom traffic from LHR to ORD as AI clearly is one of the best airlines in the world in many respects.
Best airlines are from India vis Air India Indian Airlines Indus Air Spice Jet
Arsenal@LHR From United Kingdom, joined Mar 2001, 7695 posts, RR: 20 Reply 13, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 23 hours ago) and read 417 times:
What on earth are the new UK transit visa requirements?
Nationals of certain countries, which includes India - unless exempt as detailed above - must have a DAT visa to transit through the United Kingdom. The visa does not allow entry to the UK: other than to catch a connecting flight, leaving from the same airport on the same day, where you do not need to pass through immigration control to catch the flight. This is called Direct Airside Transit.
Jaysit From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (4 years 2 months 4 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 409 times:
But the UK Visa site says that the DAT Visa does not apply if the traveller has a valid US or Canadian visa and is ticketed for onward travel to the US or Canada.
So how does that affect AI's JFK and ORD flights where I would think that nearly all ticketed passengers are either off to the US or are terminating their journey in London and have valid UK visas. How does this affect any future US bound traffic rights?
It appears that the DAT visa requirements would only extend to those who are transiting LHR for visits to the EU.
Airish From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2004, 259 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (4 years 2 months 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 276 times:
I am kind of answering my own question here but thought that some people might be interested to know that the bilateral talks are due to begin on 16 September 2004 in London
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