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Swissair plans flights to Bangalore

Rumi Dutta

Swissair, in an attempt to expand flight operations in India, is planning to commence services to Bangalore.

The company is also looking at other destinations in south India such as Chennai and Hyderabad. The international carrier is expecting the required approvals from the Central government by the end of the current year.

Hans-Peter Doser, general manager, India, said, "We had previously initiated talks with Indian authorities but discussions were put on hold pending the privatisation of Air-India. It is foreseen that further talks could be held in the last quarter of this year wherein we intend to request for increased traffic rights between Switzerland and India."

The Swiss airline is yet to take a final decision on the exact destination. However, company officials said that Bangalore could be the preferred destination considering the mandate for setting up the international airport at Bangalore being awarded to the Zurich Airport.

A Siemens consortium, comprising Siemens Project Ventures of Germany, Larsen & Toubro and Zurich Airport, today signed the shareholder's agreement with the Karnataka State Industrial Investment & Development Corporation and Airport Authority of India , to jointly develop the Rs 11.50-billion Bangalore International Airport.

"Initially, we intend to kickstart flight operations to chosen destination in south India with 3 flights and would gradually increase it to seven in three-four years," Doser added.

Meanwhile, the Swissair group is amid restructuring its airline activities. With effect from April 1, a new Swiss airline (with a new brand name), built around the legal entity of Crossair, will be formed.

"A new legal entity is being formed. The brand name under which the new Swiss airline will operate is not yet decided but is expected to include the component 'SWISS'. And, over 6 months, the brand name will become the real name of the company," Doser said.

However, post-restructuring, the infrastructure as well as the product and equipment offered to and from India will remain unchanged. Around 85 per cent of the existing employees would be retained and the balance would be offered an early separation scheme.

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