Apart from developing support systems for British Airways across the globe, the Pune facility will be a back-up for British Airway's Mumbai operations. The centre will also be looking at business from other airlines, banking and finance companies.

According to a company spokesperson, the centre has already got work from British Airways, Qantas Air, Qatar Air and Air Jamaica. The facility will be inaugurated on May 6. The name of the person to head this operation will be announced later.

The company chose Pune as they wanted a back-up for its Mumbai operations. Till now, there was not back-up available anywhere else in the world. Good infrastructure and close proximity to Mumbai were the reasons for setting up a base in Pune.

The company will start operations with 20 employees and goup to 200 by the end of the first year and to 900 next year. World Network has leased 35,000 sq. ft office space at the Sofotel in the Deepak Nitrite Complex.

World Network had been set up in Mumbai as an 100 per cent EOU with an investment of 1 million pounds sterling and is into information technology administrative and office support services to airlines and other industries worldwide.