Jet plans major global spread

Announcing its ambitious plans to expand overseas operations, private carrier Jet Airways said on Monday it will fly to three North American destinations by next year and almost double the number of pilots to 1,400 by FY'09.

"By August next year, we will be flying to New York from Mumbai via Brussles and in October we expect to start our flight to San Francisco from Mumbai via a point in China, which could be Shanghai," Jet Airways Chief Executive Officer Wolfgang Prock-Schauer told reporters .

The via-destination in China for the San Francisco flight would be its first touchdown in the country, he said. "By the end of 2007 or early 2009, we expect to operate to Toronto from Delhi," Prock-Schauer said while announcing the airline's non-stop flights to Bangkok from Delhi and Kolkata starting January 23.

Besides, the carrier is looking to fly to the African continent, mainly to South Africa nand Kenya in the later paert of 2007,

he added.

In line with the expansion plans, Prock-Schauer said Jet would be almost doubling its numbner of pilots.

"Currently, we have about 750 pilots. By 2007 we are looking at increasing it to 1,200 and by end of 2008-09 we expect to have a total of 1,400 pilots," he said.

With the international routes expected to contribute higher revenues, he said the carrier was expecting to have equal contribution from the domestic and international sectors by 2008-09.

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