Continental May Add More India Flights After Getting New Jets
Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL) Wednesday said it may add more routes to major Indian cities in two years' time to cater to growing demand for travel between India and the U.S.

"We expect to get delivery of our first batch of Boeing 787 Dreamliners in 2009, and that will open up a huge market for long-distance travel - especially to India, Southeast Asia, Australia and China," Continental President Jeffery Smisek told reporters on the sidelines of a press conference.

"We will then look at adding more destinations in India."

U.S.-based Continental Airlines has firm orders for 25 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, with options to buy another 35.

The company expects the first three aircraft to be delivered in 2009 and the rest in the following three to four years.

"Our Delhi-New York route has done better than expected and we have similar hopes for the Mumbai route. We are studying various options to add cities like Hyderabad, Bangalore and Chennai. However, nothing has been finalized," said James Summerford, the airline's Vice-President for Europe, Middle East and India operations.