***********************************************************
The Secretary for Transport and Housing, Ms Eva Cheng, left Hong Kong today (April 16) for a two-day visit to Delhi to promote closer air links between Hong Kong and India.
She will meet the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Government of India, Mr Praful Patel, to exchange views on the development of Hong Kong-India air services.
During her stay in Delhi, she will be joined by Indian government officials to officiate at a Cathay Pacific Airways event to mark the airline's new flight plans between Hong Kong and India.
A major breakthrough was achieved last December in the air services arrangements between Hong Kong and India with substantial liberalisation of bilateral aviation arrangements.
The new arrangements allow the frequency of air services between the two places to more than double.
Cathay Pacific has enhanced its services to Delhi and Mumbai. In June it will launch a new service to Chennai.
Jet Airways of India has joined the market to provide services between Mumbai and Hong Kong since April.
Other airlines of Hong Kong and India also have plans to strengthen their services between India and Hong Kong.
In 2007, a total of 346,870 passengers were carried between Hong Kong and India, representing an increase of 5% over 2006.
Ends/Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:15
NNNN
