dubai: India-Dubai flights likely to touch pre-Covid levels soon

As demand for travel rises on the back of reduction in Covid infections across the globe, air connectivity between India and Dubai will likely be the first to reach pre-Covid levels of frequency after New Delhi allows more flights. This will also mean lower passenger fares.

“The health ministry has approved it, and the approval is for increasing it to up to over 62,000 per week (pre-Covid levels) from the current 33,600 seats,” said a source in the know, who did not want to be identified.

The aviation ministry sends all such proposals to the health ministry for approval and the proposal to resume regular international flight is still awaiting the health ministry’s nod.

Before Covid led to the cancellation of international flights in March 2020, airlines from each side were operating flights totalling 62,000 seats per week on the India-Dubai sector. Currently, airlines from both sides are allowed to operate 33,600 seats each per week under the bubble arrangement. The number of flights is likely to be increased under the bubble arrangement before the government plans to resume regular international flights. The government is likely to resume international flights from March-end or at the start of the summer schedule for airlines.

Airlines say that this move is good news because the load factor between India and Dubai has been high and planes are flying full.

“Average loads on flights between the two countries are 85%, and more flights would be a good idea and both Indian and Dubai-based carriers will benefit from it. The biggest beneficiary will be passengers, who would benefit from lower fares,” airlines sources said.

Sources also added that Dubai has put in a request for an increase in flights under the bubble arrangement – both in August and December. “Dubai had earlier decided to limit the number of flights allowed to as many as those allowed by India. As traffic grew , airlines started adding flights to Sharjah, where there were no restrictions,” said a source, explaining the reason for an increased request from Dubai.

The source, quoted above, added at one point Sharjah airport was operating 20% ​​more flights than Dubai. “Hence, a request was made to increase flight limits to pre-Covid levels even under the bubble arrangement,” said the source.

The Indian side agreed to increase the number of flights but wanted Dubai to remove pre-flight tests conducted at the airport for Indians flying to Dubai.