Aviation firm, Turkish Airlines is planning to expand its presence in the Indian market by flying to three more cities in different parts of the country.

Turkish Airlines currently flies to Delhi and Mumbai and might soon start operations in cities like Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata.

Adnan Aykac, GM-Northern & Eastern India indicated that the company is willing to pick up a stake in an Indian aviation firm if the Indian authorities permit it. He pointed out that the Indian market is expected to grow to 50 million passengers per annum by 2015 and the Indian industry commands 69% of the total share of the airlines traffic in the South Asia.

Mr. Aykac said that he expects a strong growth in the sector in the coming years as airlines in Asia have grown at a slower rate than the international airlines. India’s union civil aviation ministry is proposing a plan to allow up to 49 per cent investment by international carriers in local airlines.

If allowed, foreign airlines will be able to pick up to 49 per cent stake in publicly quoted carriers, according to analysts. The move is to bring some relief to the Indian aviation firms that are struggling with low liquidity. The aviations firms in the country are struggling with high jet fuel costs and mounting losses.