Kolkata: In a bid to make its presence felt in the international sector, Indian Airlines (IA) plans to introduce Kolkata-Hong Kong flights and increase those to Bangkok, Yangon and Kathmandu covering the Buddhist circuit.

"We will start these flights as soon as possible," Indian Airlines Regional Director (East) Vikram Badshah said in Kolkata on July 5. There were tremendous prospects in the region, which needed to be properly tapped, he added.

"We have definite plans of going to Hong Kong. It will be the first direct Kolkata-Hong Kong flight," he said. The proposal had already been forwarded to the authorities.

Asked when the flight was likely to be introduced, Badshah said it depended on a number of issues because an international flight concerned bilateral aspects.

He, however, said that IA was quite eager to start the service as it had good prospects and "preferably we will start with two flights a week."

The airlines is also considering introduction of Patna-Yangon, Gaya-Bangkok and Bagdogra-Kathmandu flights to tap the highly prospective tourist traffic to the Buddhist circuit, Badshah said.

On the domestic front, the airlines was planning to introduce a third flight between Kolkata and Mumbai.

He said that the aviation industry had gone through bad times recently with the domestic market shrinking by 7 to 10 per cent due to number of factors, including the overall slowing down of the economy.

However, the sluggish growth in the sector had not much effect on the Eastern sector, he added.

PTI