Jet planning China, US flights by next year

MUMBAI: India's largest private carrier Jet Airways plans to launch services ahead of the 2008 Olympics to China, from where it plans to fly to the US next year.

"We are planning to connect Mumbai and Delhi to Shanghai and Beijing and from there to different US destinations. We hope to commence these operations next year," Jet Airways Chairman Naresh Goyal said here.

Once operational, Jet would be the second Indian carrier after Air-India to offer services to the eastern neighbour.

While the airline can fly directly to China, it is yet to get landing rights in the US. The Jet Chief expressed confidence that the airline would get clearance from the US Civil Aviation Authorities within a year.

Jet's plans to fly to the Big Apple came crashing down in 2005 when a US namesake alleged that the Indian carrier had links with terror groups and wanted it to be barred from flying to US.

On operations to China, a top Jet Airways official said: "We are not just looking at the Olympic boom. It will not last... What we are really looking at is to tap the large business travellers especially software professionals flying between India, US and China".

The airline is also planning a slew of direct flights to various European destinations this year and next year. "Europe is emerging as a big travel destination. By this year end, we will have flights to Zurich, and some more destinations," Goyal said.