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Arab Times
19-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
More Flights, More Seats: India–Kuwait Travel Sees Big Expansion
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: In a rare and significant move, India has increased bilateral flying rights with Kuwait by 50%, raising the weekly seat capacity between the two countries from 12,000 to 18,000. This marks the first such enhancement for Kuwait in 18 years, following a previous increase from 8,320 seats in 2006. The revised agreement allows airlines from both India and Kuwait to now operate up to 18,000 seats per week in each direction. The deal was formalized through the signing of a memorandum between India's Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) President Sheikh Hamoud Al-Mubarak. The increase comes amid surging demand for travel between the two nations, with existing capacities having been fully utilized by carriers on both sides for some time. Currently, Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo, Jazeera Airways, and Kuwait Airways operate nearly 40 flights daily between India and Kuwait. Kuwait Airways leads with 54 weekly flights, followed by IndiGo with 36, making them the two largest operators on this route. The agreement reflects Kuwait's long-standing request for an increase in bilateral air rights, a demand that aligns with broader trends in the Middle East — particularly regions such as Dubai — where travel demand from and to India continues to soar. Since 2014, the Modi government has pursued a bilateral air agreement policy aimed at protecting and promoting the interests of Indian carriers. The newly signed agreement with Kuwait marks a continuation of this pro-growth, pro-aviation policy, offering increased capacity and greater flexibility for airlines on both sides to meet evolving passenger demand.
Arab Times
19-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
India raises weekly seat capacity for Kuwait to 18,000 in new air agreement
KUWAIT CITY, July 19: In a rare and significant move, India has increased bilateral flying rights with Kuwait by 50%, raising the weekly seat capacity between the two countries from 12,000 to 18,000. This marks the first such enhancement for Kuwait in 18 years, following a previous increase from 8,320 seats in 2006. The revised agreement allows airlines from both India and Kuwait to now operate up to 18,000 seats per week in each direction. The deal was formalized through the signing of a memorandum between India's Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) President Sheikh Hamoud Al-Mubarak. The increase comes amid surging demand for travel between the two nations, with existing capacities having been fully utilized by carriers on both sides for some time. Currently, Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo, Jazeera Airways, and Kuwait Airways operate nearly 40 flights daily between India and Kuwait. Kuwait Airways leads with 54 weekly flights, followed by IndiGo with 36, making them the two largest operators on this route. The agreement reflects Kuwait's long-standing request for an increase in bilateral air rights, a demand that aligns with broader trends in the Middle East — particularly regions such as Dubai — where travel demand from and to India continues to soar. Since 2014, the Modi government has pursued a bilateral air agreement policy aimed at protecting and promoting the interests of Indian carriers. The newly signed agreement with Kuwait marks a continuation of this pro-growth, pro-aviation policy, offering increased capacity and greater flexibility for airlines on both sides to meet evolving passenger demand.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India, Kuwait Agree to Raise Flight Seats by 50%
India has signed a new air agreement with Kuwait that allows for a 50% increase in the number of seats operated by the carriers of both countries to 18,000 per week, a development that is expected to bring down airfares and benefit thousands of Indian citizens working in the West Asian country. The move comes in response to a long-standing demand to allow an increase in seats as airlines of both sides had exhausted their quota, leading to a sharp increase in air fares. The permitted capacity was last raised 18 years ago, when the weekly entitlements of each side were increased to 12,000 seats from 8,320 seats, said people familiar with the matter. As part of the agreement – signed in Delhi on Tuesday between the delegations of the two countries, led by civil aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and Sheikh Hamoud Al-Mubarak, president of Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, respectively – Indian airlines will get priority on landing and parking slots at Kuwait's airports. The issue of enhanced air connectivity was discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait in December 2024, said the people. Indian and Kuwaiti carriers such as Air India Express, Akasa Air, IndiGo, Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways operate nearly 40 flights daily between the two countries. Kuwait Airways, with 54 flights per week, and IndiGo, with 36 weekly flights, are the two largest carriers from the two sides. Demand has increased substantially over time as Kuwait has attracted a large number of Indian workers. 'The shortage leads to exorbitant prices. This type of new agreement will significantly benefit the population,' said Raja Sethunath, council chair, Assocham.
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Business Standard
17-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India and Kuwait ink deal to clear runway for more flights and flyers
India and Kuwait have agreed to significantly expand their bilateral flying rights for the first time in nearly two decades. The revised agreement raises the weekly seat quota by 50 per cent to 18,000 seats from 12,000 for each side. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was formally signed in New Delhi by India's Civil Aviation Secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and Sheikh Hamoud Al-Mubarak, President of Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, on Wednesday, after being finalised a day earlier. This is the first capacity enhancement since 2006, when the weekly quota was raised to 12,000 seats from 8,320. Indian and Kuwaiti carriers ramp up operations Currently, nearly 40 daily flights operate between India and Kuwait, served by Indian carriers such as Air India Express, Akasa Air, and IndiGo, alongside Kuwaiti airlines including Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways. Kuwait Airways leads with 54 weekly services, followed by IndiGo's 36, making them the largest operators on the route. PM Modi's Kuwait visit laid groundwork for aviation deal The subject of expanding air connections was also discussed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Kuwait in December 2023. As part of the new arrangement, Indian airlines will also receive priority access to landing and parking slots at Kuwaiti airports—a key operational advantage in congested hubs. Aviation dialogue with Gulf nations continues According to a report by The Economic Times, the Ministry of External Affairs has also confirmed that discussions on civil aviation are ongoing with several Gulf nations. The ministry said efforts are under way to increase flight frequency and open new destinations, which would ultimately contribute to lowering travel costs for passengers. Rising demand from diaspora drove deal momentum The seat increase comes amid a surge in travel demand between the two nations, particularly driven by the large Indian diaspora in Kuwait, with a significant portion hailing from Kerala, the report added. Carriers on both sides had been operating at full capacity for some time, limiting their ability to introduce additional flights and leading to higher ticket prices.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Time of India
India hikes Kuwait's flying rights by 50% to 18,000 weekly seats
NEW DELHI: In a rare move, India has enhanced the flying rights of a Gulf nation when it raised weekly seats to 18,000 per week between India and Kuwait from earlier 12,000 — a raise of 50%. Now airlines of both sides can deploy 18,000 seats per week. The agreement was signed by India's aviation secretary Samir Kumar Sinha and Kuwait DGCA president Sheikh Hamoud Al-Mubarak. Kuwait gets more bilaterals after 18 years, when its capacity was raised from 8,320 to 12,000. The enhancement comes as airlines of both countries had long ago fully utilised their share of allowed allowed seats. Air India Express, Akasa, IndiGo, Jazeera Airways and Kuwait Airways operate nearly 40 flights daily between the two countries. At 54 weekly flights, Kuwait Airways is is the biggest operator followed by IndiGo at 36. With an increase in demand for travel, Kuwait — like several other regions especially in the Middle East including Dubai — had been seeking a hike in bilaterals. In the last one year, India has signed new air service agreements with Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Uzbekistan. The Modi govt since 2014 had been following a policy for bilaterals that keeps in mind the interest of Indian carriers and has been taking steps to increase their share in the international traffic flying in and out of the country. The steps taken include massive capex in augmenting Indian airports' capacity so that they can become big global hubs; divesting Air India and AI Express; letting new airlines like Akasa take wings and enabling IndiGo to grow despite massive global supply chain constraints. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
