Emirates CCO: India's aviation market needs more competition

11 Jun 2024 CW Team

Emirates Airline's Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, Adnan Kazim, remarked that the pace of growth in the Indian aviation market must align with capacity, and increased competition would offer consumers more options. He advocated for expanded bilateral flying rights between Dubai and India.

Regarding potential partnerships in India, Kazim stated that Emirates is receptive to such engagements if there is interest from Indian airlines in dialogue and collaboration. He described India as a top-tier market for the full-service carrier, with current demand surpassing available capacity in the country.

Emirates currently operates direct flights to nine Indian cities from Dubai and has been advocating for increased bilateral rights between the two countries, which currently stand at 65,000 seats per week. Kazim highlighted India's consistent demand, unaffected by seasons or holidays, and emphasised the need to match the growth of Indian aviation with adequate capacity.

The bilateral flying rights currently allow Dubai carriers to operate 65,000 seats weekly to India, with a similar allocation for Indian airlines to Dubai. Kazim mentioned that these rights are fully utilised, with the last revision occurring in 2015. The decision on bilateral flying rights rests with the governments of India and the UAE.

Kazim expressed satisfaction with the support received from stakeholders in India and highlighted Emirates' interline agreement with SpiceJet. He underscored the importance of partnerships and collaborations in the aviation industry, noting that competition is welcome and emphasising the need for airlines to work together to cover the diverse needs of travellers

Infrastructure Urban

07 Jul 2026

IHC and Adani to Invest US$11.5 bn in Odisha Aluminium Project

Abu Dhabi's International Holding Company (IHC) will invest US$11.5 bn in an integrated aluminium project in the eastern Indian state of Odisha in a joint venture with the Adani Group, a state official said. The official said the announcement represented the country's largest foreign investment in mining and metallurgy. Officials said the venture would span both mining and metallurgical activities across several facilities in the state. The project has been described as integrated, encompassing upstream bauxite extraction and downstream smelting and metallurgy, and is intended to develop a com..

Air India and SIAEC to Explore MRO Joint Venture in India

Air India and SIA Engineering Company (SIAEC) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the formation of a maintenance, repair and overhaul joint venture in India. The MoU, signed on Friday, will examine collaboration to develop India as a global aviation MRO hub and to serve growing needs across the Indian and regional markets. SIA Engineering Company, part of the Singapore Airlines Group which holds a 25.1 per cent stake in Air India, will bring technical expertise alongside Air India's established airline operations network. The partnership builds on existing cooperation be..

Assam and Centre Review Aviation Projects Push Silchar Airport Approval

Assam and the Centre on Thursday, July two reviewed a series of aviation infrastructure projects aimed at strengthening air connectivity across the state, with the proposed greenfield airport at Silchar emerging as a key priority. The review formed part of broader efforts to position Assam as a major aviation and logistics hub for the north east. Officials outlined timelines and preparatory work that they said would guide the next stages of project approvals. The Chief Minister met the Union Civil Aviation Minister at Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan in New Delhi and described the meeting as very productiv..