The aviation stand-off between India and Kuwait has been called off following the signing of a memorandum of understanding last night between the two countries.
According to the MoU, the number of weekly seats between India and Kuwait will be increased to 12,000 each from the existing 8,000. Additionally, Kuwaiti airlines have also been allowed new flights to the Indian cities of Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bangalore.
The signing of the Kuwait-India agreement means flights scheduled between the two countries will now continue without a break. The move comes as a big relief to passengers from both countries who were scrambling to change their travel plans, following the uncertainty over India-Kuwait flights.
Last week, Kuwaiti authorities had threatened to call off all flights to and from India, miffed at India's "refusal" to allow more flights into India.
The agreement follows three-day negotiations between the aviation officials of both countries. Airlines from both countries have been allowed to airlift 12,000 passengers going to India and the same number while coming back, said Fawaz Al-Farah, director general of the Kuwait's civil aviation department.
Currently, the India-Kuwait route is serviced by Air India and Indian from the Indian side and Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways from the Kuwait side. Air India flies four times a week to Mumbai from Kuwait city, and Indian has three flights a week to southern cities. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways operate daily flights to Mumbai and some more to South Indian cities.
India's major concern, though unstated, has been the cheep fares offered by Jazeera Airways. The Jazeera flight tickets to India are priced between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000, while the cheapest fares of Air India Express start at Rs 7,000.
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According to the MoU, the number of weekly seats between India and Kuwait will be increased to 12,000 each from the existing 8,000. Additionally, Kuwaiti airlines have also been allowed new flights to the Indian cities of Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bangalore.
The signing of the Kuwait-India agreement means flights scheduled between the two countries will now continue without a break. The move comes as a big relief to passengers from both countries who were scrambling to change their travel plans, following the uncertainty over India-Kuwait flights.
Last week, Kuwaiti authorities had threatened to call off all flights to and from India, miffed at India's "refusal" to allow more flights into India.
The agreement follows three-day negotiations between the aviation officials of both countries. Airlines from both countries have been allowed to airlift 12,000 passengers going to India and the same number while coming back, said Fawaz Al-Farah, director general of the Kuwait's civil aviation department.
Currently, the India-Kuwait route is serviced by Air India and Indian from the Indian side and Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways from the Kuwait side. Air India flies four times a week to Mumbai from Kuwait city, and Indian has three flights a week to southern cities. Kuwait Airways and Jazeera Airways operate daily flights to Mumbai and some more to South Indian cities.
India's major concern, though unstated, has been the cheep fares offered by Jazeera Airways. The Jazeera flight tickets to India are priced between Rs 4,000 and Rs 12,000, while the cheapest fares of Air India Express start at Rs 7,000.
Discuss
Add this link to...
Tell a friend
Bury
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