Direct Adelaide to India flights: Premier Peter Malinauskas confident after official talks

Direct flights from Adelaide to India may be one step closer after being discussed by Premier Peter Malinauskas in top-level meetings.

Peter Malinauskas (middle) meeting with IndiGo Airlines in New Delhi.

Premier Peter Malinauskas is confident of securing direct flights from Adelaide to India after top-level meetings with airport and airline officials.

Speaking during a five-day trip to India, Mr Malinauskas said he had pursued direct flights at meetings with the nation’s largest airline, IndiGo, and rival Air India, along with the chief of its largest airport, Delhi International.

“India is the fastest growing economy in the world and our third-largest trading partner, so direct flights from Adelaide to India makes sense,” he said.

“I’m confident securing direct flights to India is possible in coming years.

“With our strong trade ties, growing international student numbers and large India diaspora, our advice is direct flights would be economically sustainable for airlines and provide a further boost to our economy and specifically our tourism sector.”

Premier Peter Malinauskas in New Delhi with IndiGo Airlines head of global sales Vinay Malhotra

Mr Malinauskas said this also would give South Australians an extra stopover option for European flights.

India is SA’s third-largest export market, valued at more than $1bn, trailing China and the United States.

Adding to the case for direct flights, more than 44,000 South Australians are Indian-born.

Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox, who has been part of Mr Malinauskas’s trade delegation, on Sunday said this would be the “first step” of direct flight talks.

Premier Peter Malinauskas catches up with cricketer Travis Head in India. Picture: Peter Malinauskas

Ahead of The Advertiser’s Building a Bigger, Better South Australia forum in February, Mr Cox said India had become the biggest driver of inbound travel and was an incredibly important education market, including for people visiting friends and relatives.

A direct service between Adelaide and India would “economically make sense”, Mr Cox said, adding it was “not if, it’s when”.

Mr Malinauskas left on Sunday morning, leading a delegation of university vice chancellors and other officials, with another key aim to attract students to the merged Adelaide University opening in 2026.

The Premier had breakfast in Hyderabad on Wednesday with SA cricket star Travis Head, who is playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League.

Originally published as Direct Adelaide to India flights: Premier Peter Malinauskas confident after official talks