Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng left Hong Kong today for a two-day visit to Delhi during which she will meet Indian Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel to discuss the development of Hong Kong-India air services.

Last December saw a major breakthrough with substantial liberalisation of bilateral aviation arrangements which allow the frequency of air services between the two places to more than double.

Cathay Pacific has enhanced its services to Delhi and Mumbai and will launch a new service to Chennai in June. Jet Airways of India has joined the market this month to provide Mumbai-Hong Kong services. Other Hong Kong and India airlines also plan to enhance services between the two places.

A total of 346,870 passengers were carried between Hong Kong and India last year, up 5% from 2006.

During her stay in Delhi, Ms Cheng and Indian government officials will officiate at an event marking Cathay Pacific Airways' new Hong Kong-India flight plans.