New Delhi: Indians planning a Dubai trip next summer may have to brace for a surge in fares as authorities in the emirate have asked Indian carriers to slash capacities by half due to a 45-day runway closure that will start April 16, 2019.
Flights by Indian carriers to Dubai account for about 65,000 seats per week. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths has told them to cut this to half in a February 27 letter. Dubai airlines Emirates and flydubai have also been asked to make reductions.
“Dubai Airports will require Emirates and flydubai to reduce their total operations by approximately 33%,” according to the letter from Griffiths, seen by ET. “Passenger airlines (including Indian carriers) with multiple daily frequencies will be required to reduce their schedule by up to 50%.”
The letter, however, said that the 33% reduction by the two Dubai flag carriers would contribute 55% of the airport’s total cuts. But Indian carriers say the reductions aren’t equal and are discriminatory. They say India has been generous to Dubai with bilateral traffic rights.
“Why do we lay down the red carpet for Gulf carriers when we face step-brotherly treatment in their countries?” said an executive at an Indian carrier that operates flights to Dubai. He pointed out that when Delhi flights had to be cancelled due to an airport closure around the time of Republic Day, the Indian authorities had tried to ensure minimal disruption to the operations of international carriers.
02/04/18 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times
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Flights by Indian carriers to Dubai account for about 65,000 seats per week. Dubai Airports CEO Paul Griffiths has told them to cut this to half in a February 27 letter. Dubai airlines Emirates and flydubai have also been asked to make reductions.
“Dubai Airports will require Emirates and flydubai to reduce their total operations by approximately 33%,” according to the letter from Griffiths, seen by ET. “Passenger airlines (including Indian carriers) with multiple daily frequencies will be required to reduce their schedule by up to 50%.”
The letter, however, said that the 33% reduction by the two Dubai flag carriers would contribute 55% of the airport’s total cuts. But Indian carriers say the reductions aren’t equal and are discriminatory. They say India has been generous to Dubai with bilateral traffic rights.
“Why do we lay down the red carpet for Gulf carriers when we face step-brotherly treatment in their countries?” said an executive at an Indian carrier that operates flights to Dubai. He pointed out that when Delhi flights had to be cancelled due to an airport closure around the time of Republic Day, the Indian authorities had tried to ensure minimal disruption to the operations of international carriers.
02/04/18 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times
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