Indian Private Carriers to Increase Flights to Gulf and Southeast Asia

Indian domestic carriers, Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo, are set to increase their international flights to the Gulf and Southeast Asia as Government of India gives approval after cancelling Air India’s right of first refusal on overseas flights.

Domestic private carriers of India will increase their flights to the Gulf and Southeast Asia. The plan has been contrived to cash in on the civil aviation ministry’s move to dispose of the Indian national carrier Air India’s right of first refusal on overseas flights.

Jet Airways, SpiceJet and IndiGo are three Indian carriers that offer somewhat limited international flights to and from India and are set to benefit from the development. The three airlines are looking to increase their overseas flights, especially to the Gulf area.

As per the right of first refusal accorded to Air India, a private-sector carrier is permitted to operate flights on an overseas network only if the national carrier declines to fly the same.

According to Indian Civil Aviation Ministry, IndiGo, a cheap budget airline, has gained approval for 63 new weekly international flights including 28 flights to Dubai and 7 to Jeddah. Spice Jet, another low-cost airline known for offering cheap tickets, has gained the permission to operate 49 new overseas flights including 7 to Dubai and 7 to Riyadh.

Jet Airways, largest Indian carrier, has received a nod for 56 new weekly flights, including 14 to Kuwait. All the private carriers are bound to start operating flights on these routes by October.

The move by the Indian Civil Aviation Ministry is likely to reduce the dependence of travellers on seeking flights with Air India to fly to the Middle East destinations. The increased flight frequency to Gulf from India will also offer better connectivity to the travellers, rewarding them with more and perhaps cheap options to choose from while flying on these routes.