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Talks on for flights from Leicestershire to India

London, Nov 8 (IANS) Talks are on with four Indian airline companies to operate regular flights from Leicestershire to India to cater to the close business and family connections between India and the large minority of Indian origin in the county.

Barry Thompson, deputy managing director of the East Midlands Airport, said: "We feel this is a very important route and a good opportunity for the economy and the airport. There are a lot of people who are already travelling to India using Manchester and Heathrow.

"We have spoken to four leading Indian airlines over the last 18 months. The airlines are from different destinations in India. We are looking to speak to them again over the next few months.

"We are also speaking with a number of business leaders and chambers of trade and tourism ministers. We want to develop long haul flights to the Indian subcontinent and this is another important step.

"We are confident this will happen, but it will take time. We know the market is there but we are looking for support from the business community."

The airport authorities have sent questionnaires to all 2,000 travel agents in the region and will use the results as part of its research. Thompson said that it was also looking at long haul flights to Islamabad, according to a report in Leicester Mercury.

Andrew Myers, managing director of Leicester-based aviation consultants, Route Development Company, said developing a route could take a few years.

He said: "In a way it is out of the hands of the airport. All they can do is present the case. We have just completed work with a client and it took around five years to develop that particular route. But there is no doubt the route will be successful and it is just simply a matter of time."

The report said that travel agents across Leicester were in favour of plans to have direct flights to several destinations in India. These include destinations in Gujarat since Leicester has a large population of Gujarat origin.

It's AI, IA, Jet, Sahara