Brisbane’s Indian community pushes for direct flights to Indian cities

More than 3,000 people have petitioned for a direct flight connecting Brisbane and India, but an airline spokesman said the company has no plans for the route.

Indian flags in a cockpit. Picture: Qantas

More than 3,000 people have pushed to link Brisbane and major Indian cities directly by planes.

Federation of Indian Communities of Queensland (FICQ), which represents 130,000 people of Indian ancestry in the state, started a petition on Saturday, July 27, to call for direct flights from the Brisbane Airport.

More than 50,000 people who were born in India call Brisbane home, which is the largest overseas-born population except New Zealand and England.

The figure more than doubled in the last 10 years, but there has never been a single direct flight to any parts of India.

The petition received more than 3,000 signatures in three days.

FICQ President Preethi Surej said the large number of signatures reflect a strong demand and urgent need for it.

“It also highlights the widespread support for this initiative and the collective desire for the more convenient and efficient travel options,” Ms Surej said.

“I think the community is really looking forward to having good and direct flights to India to make their travel easy.

“It also underscores the potential passenger base and viability for the airlines considering this route.

“We intended to present the petition to relevant stakeholders, including the government officials, airline companies and Brisbane Airport Corporation.

“We will also engage in discussions and meetings to advocate for the economic and social benefit of establishing these direct flight routes.”

Qantas celebrates their inaugural direct flight from Sydney to Bengaluru (Bangalore), India, on September 14, 2022. Picture: Qantas

Australia’s largest airline Qantas operates flights between the country’s capital Delhi and Melbourne and from Melbourne and Sydney to Bangalore of Southern India.

While India’s flag carrier Air India currently operates flights connecting Melbourne with Delhi and major city Mumbai and a non-stop route between Sydney and Delhi.

Current non-stop routes between Australia and India.

Ms Surej, who has been living in southeast Queensland for more than 15 years, travels to India every year.

“We also have flights from Brisbane, which goes through the Middle East, Singapore or Malaysia,” she said.

“But in those flights, the connectivity is not that good.

“The routes typically involve long layovers and additional travel time, making the journey more exhausting and less efficient.”

Petition signer Jitendra Agravat said it takes an average 23 to 27 hours with compulsory stop overs.

“Specifically in urgent situations, it is very difficult,” he said.

Another petition signer Annamma Stephen said it is very difficult to go to India with a layover in other countries.

“Long waiting hours, lack of sleep, many check-ins and check-outs, needing to book motel (mean) spending lots of money unnecessarily,” she said.

“Travelling with kids and parents (is) very difficult if we don’t have a direct flight.”

Ms Surej said the main idea of bringing up a direct flight was from the recurring challenges and inconveniences faced by the Indian Australian community in Brisbane when travelling to India.

“It also enhances the connectivity and supports stronger cultural and economic ties between the two regions.

“Additionally, it will also tremendously boost tourism, business and also the overall multicultural connectivity within the society.

“It will be a good idea to have a trial and see whether they have enough passengers to run the business.”

An Air India spokesman told the Courier-Mail that the company does not have any plan to commence operations to Brisbane at the time of publication.

An Air India aircraft takes off at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on April 12, 2024. Picture: Idrees Mohammed/AFP