No plans to give more bilateral rights to W Asian carriers: Rajiv Bansal

All West Asian carriers have been asking for additional seats for several years, but India hasn't acquiesced, Bansal said

The government has no plans “as of now” to accord additional bilateral rights to West Asian carriers, Civil Aviation Secretary Rajiv Bansal said on Tuesday.

To assist an airline from one country to operate international flights to another, both sides must negotiate and sign a “bilateral air services agreement”. This agreement sets the number of flights or seats that are permitted to operate per week between the two countries.

Emirates and Jazeera Airways, along with other West Asian carriers, have requested increased bilateral rights from the government to expand their flight operations.

However, Indian carriers are opposed to the expansion