Thursday, May 12 2005 10:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Singapore: Air Sahara's maiden flight outside of South Asia touched down in Singapore today (May 12, 2005), becoming the second private Indian carrier to spread its wings outside the subcontinent.

The flight from New Delhi marked the start of 14 weekly Air Sahara services between the Indian capital and Singapore, aviation officials said at Changi Airport during a welcoming ceremony for the airline.

Air Sahara follows rival private Indian carrier Jet Airways in beginning operations following the lifting of Indian Government restrictions that had protected the country's State-owned airlines.

Air Sahara had previously been flying to destinations only in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Jet Airways also chose Singapore as its first international destination outside and it began operating 14 weekly flights between Mumbai and the Southeast Asian Island-nation last month.

Six airlines now offer more than 220 weekly flights between Singapore and 11 Indian cities, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) said.

CAAS director general Wong Woon Liong said air traffic between Singapore and India had grown 21 percent since 2002.