Even as missile exchanges in West Asia disrupt major air corridors, Indian airlines have managed to keep critical Gulf routes open. Data released on 8 March by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and reported by Gulf News shows that Air India, Air India Express, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Akasa Air jointly planned 49 India-bound flights that day from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, Muscat and Jeddah. The figure underscores the importance of the Gulf-India aviation bridge: more than 9 million Indian expatriates live in the region and remittances from the GCC alone exceed US $40 billion annually. Airlines have been forced to re-route around closed Iranian and Iraqi airspace, adding up to 90 minutes of flying time on some sectors and raising fuel costs. Nevertheless, carriers say demand remains ‘‘exceptionally strong’’ as workers, tourists and spring-break students rush to secure seats before Ramadan begins. Industry analysts note that India’s bilateral air-service agreements give domestic airlines only about a 36 percent share of Gulf capacity, so any suspension by foreign carriers quickly leads to shortages. By proactively filing extra slots and deploying larger aircraft, the Indian side is trying to prevent fare spikes—an issue the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has vowed to monitor closely. Companies moving project personnel between India and the Gulf should anticipate rolling schedule changes, monitor ticket prices daily, and consider purchasing fare-difference protection. Travellers transiting via third-country hubs such as Colombo or Tashkent must also check whether new transit-visa rules apply.
Source: Gulf News
