New Delhi, Aug. 25 -- India is ready to extend "necessary civil aviation support" to Indian private air carriers to facilitate direct air connectivity with Fiji, said Neena Malhotra, Secretary (South), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Monday.

During a special briefing on the occasion of the visit of the Prime Minister of Fiji, Sitiveni Rabuka, to India, Malhotra addressed the pressing issue of limited air connectivity between India and Fiji, while acknowledging the challenges stemming from the absence of a national carrier in India and the limited operations of Fiji Airways.

"On the direct (flight) connectivity, I do realise that it's a major, major challenge. India doesn't have a national carrier as of now, and Fiji Airways has l...