Premier Gordon Campbell announced that Kingfisher Airlines has committed to operate the first non-stop Delhi-Vancouver flights as soon as possible.

"Building better transportation links between B.C. and India will build on the already-close social, cultural and business relationships that exist between our two jurisdictions," said Campbell, after meeting with Dr. Vijay Mallya, Kingfisher Airlines' chairman and CEO, in Delhi. "The convenience of direct, non-stop flights between Vancouver and Delhi will create a major benefit for our whole community."

It's expected that the non-stop service will reduce travel time between Delhi and Vancouver from approximately 25 hours to 15 hours.

"I am very excited to have an airline of Kingfisher's quality coming to Vancouver," said Campbell. "It helps establish our gateway status for the world's two fastest-growing economies, China and India, while creating a vital link for our Indo-Canadian community, business, investors from B.C. and our tourism industry. I want to thank Dr. Vijay Mallya for his vision and commitment."

"There are thousands of people travelling between British Columbia and India every month who will benefit from the direct, high-calibre service that Kingfisher Airlines will offer," said Mallya. "I look forward to the boost this new service will give to tourism and business in both B.C. and in India, and to offering British Columbian travellers the excellent service and comfort that Kingfisher provides."

"This new non-stop service by Kingfisher Airlines is integral to the Vancouver Gateway Strategy, as Delhi represents the largest market not served non-stop from Vancouver," said Tony Gugliotta, the Vancouver Airport Authority's senior vice-president of marketing and commercial development. "We see the market as having enormous potential, not only through our cultural ties, but through increased business and tourism linkages. Non-stop service will greatly enhance the convenience and ease for travel between Delhi and Vancouver."

India was the second-highest source for immigrants settling in British Columbia in 2006. In the 2001 census, more than 180,000 British Columbians identified themselves as being Indian in origin. Approximately 28 per cent of all Indian tourists to Canada arrived through Vancouver in 2006.

Earlier in Premier Campbell's mission to Asia, Cathy Pacific and China Southern Airlines announced increased air service between China and Vancouver.

Premier Campbell is currently on his fourth mission to Asia.

More information on the Pacific Gateway Strategy, the Action Plan and the targets for 2020 is available online at www.pacificgateway.gov.bc.ca/. British Columbia's Asia Pacific Initiative can be found at www.gov.bc.ca/ecdev.

More information on Kingfisher Airlines can be found at www.flykingfisher.com