New Delhi: With the issue of a proper slot for Air India at Heathrow still hanging fire, India and Britain on January 8 agreed to increase direct flight connectivity with New Delhi, insisting on requisite slots for the Indian carrier.

At a meeting in New Delhi with British Secretary of State for Trade and Industry Patricia Hewitt, Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain said New Delhi would be happy to provide additional frequencies to British Airways on a reciprocal basis, if requisite slots at Heathrow airport were granted to Air India, Ministry officials said.

They said the two sides agreed to discuss various modalities at the levels of government, airlines and airports to achieve this objective within a short time.

Hewitt and Hussain also stressed the need for making all out efforts to further strengthen co-operation between civil aviation authorities and the industry of the two countries.

The visiting delegation informed Hussain that British companies were also interested in providing latest technology and participating in the on-going efforts for upgrading of aviation facilities in India.

PTI