Air India has been holding talks with different airport authorities for a hub to facilitate air connectivity with Europe, AI's Chairman-cum-Managing Director V Tulsidas said on Monday.

The proposed hub would be formed by AI with its fleet in collaboration with the fleet of the European partners, Tulsidas told reporters at the N S C B International airport, in Kolkata.

AI passengers would be able to fly to different parts of Europe, and even to North America as per the plan, he said.

The travel map might include Amsterdam, Vienna and other airports in Europe, he hinted. However, no place for the proposed hub has been selected as yet. 

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The CMD, on a visit to the region to assess the air connectivity with North-East, said possibility of linking Kolkata with far East countries was being studied.

Allaying apprehensions of Kolkata not figuring into the scheme of things of AI, Tulsidas said from October 'Air India Express' flights would start on Kolkata-Bangkok, Kolkata-Kuala Lumpur, Kolkata-Singapore and Kolkata-Dhaka routes with wide-bodied Boeing 747 jets.

Discounting reports of withdrawal of Dhaka-Kolkata-London flights, he said, "Kolkata is very much into our future plans."

Referring to improved air connectivity with North-East, he said AI has started inducting more Airbus 320 operation in the region and phasing out Boeing 737, under Alliance Air, from this month.

The existing Boeing fleet would be utilised for freighter services.

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