Tuesday, July 12 2005 15:42 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

London: Air India will launch its direct flights from India to Mauritius from September 12, its Chairman and Managing Director V Tulasidas said.

Air India is firmly on its growth path, Tulasidas said, adding, "We plan to introduce direct flight to Mauritius from September 12 and shortly thereafter to South Africa."

Tulasidas, who was Chief Guest at a function organised in his honour by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in London, said last night (July 11, 2005) that the national carrier would be adding 68 aircraft at one go, most of them being the latest state-of-the art planes.

18 of them were meant for the new airlines called Air India Express.

He said the first Boeing787 "dream-line aircraft" would join the Air India fleet in 2008.

Present on the occasion were Lord Slim, Manick Dalal, Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Councillor David William, Deputy Mayor of Hammersmith and Fulham and Joginder Sangar, Vice chairman of the Bhavan here.

Asserting that the Bhavan has been close to his heart because of the yeomen services it has rendered in the spread of education and culture, Tulasidas said Air India would extend it all possible assistance.