Dubai, July 1: Air-India and Indian are likely to increase their seat capacities from Doha in Qatar to destinations in India from early next year.

A report in the Gulf Times newspaper quoted Thiruvalloor Vinod Kumar, the outgoing Qatar country manager of Indian (formerly Indian Airlines), as saying that both Indian and Air-India would benefit greatly after their merger scheduled in March 2007.

Post-merger, the new carrier would have combined strength of 100 aircraft.

"Benefits from the merger would be manifold and both the Indian airline industry and passengers would have numerous advantages once the procedures are completed," Kumar told the newspaper.

Kumar said Indian would acquire the first of its 46 new aircraft in November this year.

He also said he has asked Indian's head office to explore the possibility of running daily services to Mumbai and Chennai once the new aircraft start arriving.