Indian airline hints at flights to SA

INDIA’S JET Airways is planning dedicated cargo flights into Durban and Johannesburg following the conclusion of a US$400m (R2.8bn) capex drive expected by the end of the year. In a statement issued in New Delhi last week, Jet chairman Naresh Goyal outlined expansion plans following a move earlier this year that saw staterun rival Air India launch a dedicated cargo service. This was part of a revival plan involving a merger with Indian Airlines aimed at recovering market share from Jet. “We plan to serve 50 points in Europe. We are also looking at Iran and Tel Aviv and examining the possibility of connecting Tel Aviv with the US. Besides, we plan to fly to Durban and Johannesburg in South Africa,” he said. The airline is waiting for the right market conditions before it goes ahead with its plan to raise R2.8bn by selling shares to existing shareholders, according to Goyal.