It is my understanding that AI has been interested in flts via HKG to west coast US but CX wanted to extract its pound of flesh. CX regional managers had previously boasted in the press on how AI's need for HKG stops and transits will give CX leverage to fly elsewhere from India.

It is my understanding that India and Hong Kong are to finalize bilateral discussions in Dec 2004. CX is hoping to go HKG-BOM and HKG-DEL daily. India should get a lot of frequency and hopefully rights to fly to west coast US. AI is anyway capacity constrained and Europe is much better market to develop for them right now (with London opening up and the strategic alliances with LH and AF).

India will be entering the negotiations with HKG with a much better hand (proof of strong alternate routes to US/Canada and direct routes in 2005/6 via polar rotue). Let us see how it plays out.