Date:21/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2008/03/21/stories/2008032150860700.htm

Jet Airways gets nod to fly to San Francisco from Shanghai

Our Bureau

New Delhi, March 20 Jet Airways has finally been given the go-ahead to start operating flights on the India-China-San Francisco route. This was agreed to on Thursday at the conclusion of two days of official talks between India and China.

The airline was allowed to operate the service, earlier, but could not start the service as the Chinese authorities did not allow Jet Airways permission to fly onwards to San Francisco.

Apart from Jet, the other designated airlines from India have also been allowed to operate not only to China, but onwards to either the US and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, apart from Asian countries. At the moment, Air India and Jet Lite are the only other airlines that are eligible to fly abroad.

At the meeting it was agreed that the designated airlines from India will be allowed to pick up passengers from China and fly them onwards to San Francisco. The decision clears the way for Jet Airways to launch a daily flight on the Mumbai-Shanghai-San Francisco sector.

At the meeting, the Chinese delegation also gave the Indian side the complete set of documents about the operation of the Great Wall Airlines from Shanghai to Mumbai and Chennai.