Airfares from UAE may rise over India’s hard seat-sharing stance

Airfares from UAE may rise over India’s hard seat-sharing stance

Dubai: India’s refusal to grant any more bilateral seat-sharing rights to GCC and other foreign carriers could directly impact Indian expatriates in the UAE as they may end up paying higher airfares on their trips back home. Aviation experts say that airfares, which already skyrocket during peak travel times, could go even higher as airlines try to maximise revenue from available seats. And Indian expatriates would also have fewer flight timings and route options, leading to more travel inconveniences. For years, Gulf carriers have been the preferred airline for Indian expatriates, given the number of passengers they carry into India via their hubs. With Indian airlines, especially Tata-owned Air India’s transformation, India seems to be restricting the growth of these carriers in India. Air India’s order of 470 new aircraft makes for an aggressive push into the international market by offering non-stop flights to long-haul destinations such as the US and Europe, a domain that GCC carriers have long held. The debate over market access was rekindled at an aviation event in India last week when India’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, said India’s government is not looking to increase air traffic rights for the UAE and other Gulf