Businesses urged to back airport’s India campaign
BIRMINGHAM International Airport is stepping up its campaign for the reinstatement of direct flights to India.
A petition launched by Birmingham City Council leader Mike Whitby has attracted 25,000 signatures since October, but now airport strategists want to put together a business case to present to the major airlines serving the sub continent. They are calling on the region’s business community to add its weight to the campaign to get direct flights back on the departure board 18 months after they disappeared.
Senior business figures backing the campaign include Lord Kumar Bhattacharya of the Warwick Manufacturing Group, and leaders of the main business representative organisations in the region, one of whom says the campaign’s aims is a “no brainer”.
Jerry Blackett, chief executive of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said: “A direct link with India is a must for a major city like Birmingham with so many Asian business connections. The Chamber fully supports the airport’s Fly India campaign and there is strong support from the whole business community. I have just returned from New Delhi on a trade mission seeking new opportunities with India and it is obvious that a direct flight is essential.
“We only lost the Air India service because the airline needed to switch flights to preserve landing slots at Heathrow. We hope now that Air India will fulfil its promise to return to Birmingham.”
John Morris, the airport’s director of public affairs said: “There are more than half a million people from an Asian background living within a one hour drive of Birmingham Airport, with 350,000 of these of Indian origin, yet there’s no direct route from Birmingham.
“We want to show that not only is there a compelling case for such flights but there’s also strong support from our region’s Indian community.
Air India operated from Birmingham in the 1970s and then started flights between Delhi-Amritsar-Birmingham-Toronto in May 2005. It moved its operation to Heathrow in 2008 to secure valuable slots there. It promised to return to the city, but business leaders are concerned that the recession will delay the route’s reinstatement.
To add your support to the campaign, click this link
Campaigners say the viability of the service was not in doubt. In its last year, Air India’s Birmingham operation carried more than 100,000 people between Amritsar, Delhi, Birmingham and Toronto and its load factors were often 85%.
John Rider, a member of the West Midlands Institute of Directors regional committee, heads out to the Punjab in the next few days. His destination is Amritsar, but he cannot fly there direct from Birmingham. Instead, he has to go from London to New Delhi and then take a four hour train trip.
He said: “Obviously I would much prefer taking a direct flight were it available. The whole situation is ridiculous.
“Our airport is now in a strong position with uncertainty over the London Heathrow position and the advent of our own high speed rail connection. The airport is poised to become a real global gateway and we should not forget the prize this will bring in terms of local jobs for the region.”
Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya stressed there was “huge demand” for travel to India from the West Midlands. Equally, many Indian cities were capable of supporting links if they were available.
He said: “Nobody wants to go to London. Birmingham is much more accessible for passengers in a radius from Manchester to the north and Oxford and Luton to the south.
“We desperately need more long haul flights out of Birmingham. We are crying out for more long haul flights. If Birmingham is to be an economic hub we need that.”
Business Voice WM Executive Director James Watkins said: “BVWM has been in regular contact with the Indian High Commission in London to ensure there are direct air links between Birmingham International Airport and the Punjab.
“We have been assured by diplomats at the High Commission that our requests for the Indian government to allow such routes are being considered at the highest level in New Delhi.”
John Phillips, West Midlands Institute of Directors regional director, said: “We would appeal to both governments to try and break the deadlock and agree to liberalise air links. “It has been proven that the demand is there out of Birmingham, with benefits for all. This should be an absolute no brainer.”
