Buoyed by healthy India operations, Cathay Pacific airlines would add two more flights out of Kolkata in the coming days and convert the Delhi- Bangkok-Hong Kong flight to a direct service.

"India is among the top 10 markets for Cathay. It is a solid growing market, in order to provide convenient timings to our travellers, especially the business travellers, we are launching our second direct flight to Hong Kong from Delhi from March 31," Charlie Stewart-Cox, the airline's General Manager (South Asia, Middle East and Africa), said here.

To questions on the Hong Kong-based carrier's expansion plan, he told a press conference that according to the existing bilateral agreement, "we can introduce only two more flights from India. We are planning to launch these flights from Kolkata to Hong Kong."

Cathay currently operates 47 weekly flights from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Hyderabad and with its sister concern DragonAir from Kolkata and Bangalore. The airline has a fleet of 139 planes, including Boeing 747, 777s, Airbus 330 and Airbus 340 and would induct 93 new ones by the end of this year.

Asked whether the airline had plan to invest in any Indian carrier like Singapore Airlines or Etihad Airways, he said Cathay Pacific "looks at organic growth in India and there is no plan to invest in any India airlines". Regarding its India operations, Stewart-Cox said "our aim would be to get the schedules of most of our flights to Hong Kong from India to adjust in such way that passengers have greater choice and convenience" and they could conveniently connect to destinations beyond, including North America.

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