The ministry of civil aviation has asked KLM Royal Dutch Airlines to extend its operations to Kolkata.
The ministry has directed the airlines to begin the operation or cut down its existing seven flights to three.
According to senior officials at the ministry, KLM had entered into an agreement with the government in 1992 which granted it three flights out of India.
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For any increase in frequency the airlines would have to extend its operations to Kolkata. KLM officials refused to comment on the issue.
In the post September 11 scenario with major airlines such as United Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines pulling out of India, the civil aviation ministry had allowed KLM to increase its flights out of India. The airline had increased its frequency to 7 flights out of Delhi to Amsterdam.