Emirates boss says India’s protectionist stance will be detrimental to economy
airlines can offer in one of the world’s biggest markets for outbound travel, Emirates president Tim Clark said.
AP: Exit Polls 2024 Live Updates
Exit Poll 2024 Live Updates
PM Modi eyes record, Opposition seeks rebound
Emirates is the largest foreign airline operating in India.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is favourite to retain power for another five-year-term, had frozen the expansion rights for foreign airlines, particularly those from the Middle East, to encourage its carriers to fly wide-body aircraft and provide direct connectivity to North America and Europe.
“I understand that the Indian government is looking at this policy with a view to protect their own carriers, particularly giving some space to Air India, which has been privatised. But I can tell it will not work in the long run. It will be detrimental to your own economy,” Clark said on the sidelines of the Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in Dubai.
The last increase in flying rights to Dubai came in 2014. According to the arrangements finalized then, Emirates is allowed to operate 66,284 seats in India. However, since then there has been an exponential rise in traffic between India and Dubai and carriers from both sides have exhausted their quota.
Government sources said that the UAE has asked the Indian government to provide another 50,000 seats a week and that a decision on the same will be taken by the new government.
Travel data analytics firm OAG said Delhi-Dubai is
