India-Dubai talks on enhancing bilateral air traffic rights

Marathon negotiations between India and Dubai on enhancement of bilateral air traffic rights took place today, with Indian carriers insisting that they would not shift to another terminal in the UAE city-state's airport from where they were operating currently.
Sources said the Dubai side moved a proposal for the Indian carriers to shift to another airport terminal, which was opposed by the Indian team.
While there were indications that the two sides were coming close to an understanding on enhancing the bilateral seat entitlements by another 10,000-12,000 per week, there was no official confirmation till late tonight as the meeting, which had started at 1100 hours, was underway even at 2030 hours with no end in sight.

Currently, the bilateral seat entitlements between India and Dubai are 54,200 seats per week, which is almost entirely used up by Emirates and low-cost carrier flydubai.
In 2012, Dubai had sought an increase by 20,000 seats per week in late 2012. However, at that time Indian carriers were not fully utilising their entitlements and so, no decision was taken on the issue.
Since then, Indian carriers, including IndiGo and SpiceJet, have started new flights to Dubai and utilising over 80 per cent of the entitlements. By summer schedule starting this month end, this number may go up to 95 per cent. This has prompted the government to consider Dubai's request now.

An inter-ministerial group had met a few days ago and heard the concerns expressed by Air India and some private carriers about increase of 20,000 seats per week in bilateral entitlements as requested by Dubai. The group comprised officials of the ministries of Commerce, Finance, Tourism, External Affairs and Civil Aviation.
Officials had later said that these concerns would be kept in mind when they restart negotiations with the aviation team from Dubai.