Emirates warns against limiting access for foreign airlines
Emirates president Tim Clark has criticized India's aviation policies. He said limiting foreign air access could harm India's economy. Clark noted air transport is a key economic driver. The UAE has requested more flying rights. But India has resisted due to Air India's concerns. Clark highlighted the significant travel between India and Dubai.
Tired of too many ads?
Remove Ads
Emirates president Tim Clark on Sunday criticized India's policy of limiting foreign air access , saying it could harm the country's economy in the long run. He called restricting foreign carriers' flying rights 'akin to shooting yourself in the foot,' noting that air transport is a key economic driver.Clark's comments come amid a longstanding dispute over bilateral flying rights between India and the UAE. Under a 2014 agreement, both countries' carriers can operate up to 66,504 seats weekly in each direction. Emirates, which already operates 334 weekly flights between Dubai and India, has reached its capacity under the deal.The UAE has requested more flying rights, but India, with strong opposition from Air India, has resisted, fearing increased foreign access would harm its own long-haul market ambitions.Clark's remarks were made at a press conference during the annual general meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).Clark pointed out that the Indian diaspora makes up a large portion of Dubai's population, which has grown significantly in the past decade. He said the scale of travel between India and Dubai highlights the missed opportunity of not expanding seat entitlements for Emirates.'The Indian government's policy of limiting foreign carrier capacity may be driven by strategic concerns, but it should recognize the vital role aviation plays in economic growth,' Clark said. 'Air transport has been a catalyst for economies around the world over the past 20 to 30 years. Not expanding air access could ultimately hurt India's economy.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
Here's Why West Bengal's Sundarbans Have Been Shut To Tourists For Three Months
Last Updated: The Forest Department has imposed a restriction on all human activity in the Sundarbans for three months in a bid to revitalise the ecosystem. Home to the largest mangrove system in the world and the Royal Bengal Tiger, West Bengal's Sundarbans has been closed for tourists for three months. The Forest Department has imposed a restriction on all human activity in a bid to revitalise the ecosystem of the forest. From June 1 to August 31, all human activities – including tourism and fishing – are strictly prohibited across the Sundarbans as part of an annual closure aimed at conservation. Now in its third consecutive year, the ban begins in June instead of July to better align with the breeding season of both aquatic and terrestrial species. This strategic timing provides a safe, undisturbed environment for wildlife and follows the conservation guidelines outlined in the Integrated Resources Management Plan (IRMP). Md Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Sundarbans East Forest Division, said, 'If we can keep the forest quiet during this period, it will significantly enhance breeding activities, especially for aquatic species. If the ban is effectively implemented, the fish population and overall wildlife in the forest will thrive." The official also noted that patrolling activities will be intensified during this period to prevent any form of intrusion, poaching, or illegal activities in the protected areas. The Sundarbans, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the world's largest mangrove forest, spanning parts of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal and southern Bangladesh. Covering over 10,000 square kilometres, this unique ecosystem is home to a rich diversity of flora and fauna, including the iconic Royal Bengal Tiger, estuarine crocodiles, spotted deer, and a wide variety of bird species. Crisscrossed by tidal rivers, creeks, and mudflats, the Sundarbans plays a vital role in coastal protection, carbon storage, and sustaining the livelihoods of local communities through fishing and honey collection. Home to 219 known aquatic species and a wide variety of terrestrial wildlife, many species that depend on the June-July period for breeding and reproduction. The seasonal closure of the forest during these months is seen as vital for allowing natural regeneration to take place without human disturbance. First Published: June 03, 2025, 13:13 IST
News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
Indian Tourists Face Flak For Pressuring Austrian Street Performers To Play Garba Music
Last Updated: The video showed tourists taking over a street in Austria to perform Garba while sidelining local performers. A group of Indian tourists has come under criticism on social media after they asked two street performers in Austria to play an Indian song on their speaker so they could perform Garba. The group of 43 people performed Garba on the streets of Austria despite the local performers being hesitant to give them the speaker and fearing police trouble. The tourists faced backlash after their video was posted to Instagram, with many asking whether it was appropriate behaviour while travelling. The incident has since stirred a bigger conversation about respecting local customs and proper travel etiquette. 'Have you ever thought of playing Garba in Europe? Well, I had and now I can tick it off the bucket list," a user on Instagram captioned the post while sharing the dance video. The woman explained their group came across two street performers in Austria and asked them to play an Indian song so the Gujarati-Marwari group could do Garba. Despite the musicians' hesitation, the group continued to push for the song. 'We didn't want to leave without doing Garba," she said with a smile. The rest of the clip shows the entire group dancing joyfully in the street, drawing attention from bystanders and passersby. While some praised the group's enthusiasm and cultural pride, others criticised the behaviour as pushy and disrespectful to the local performers. A user said, 'I am a Gujju and love Garba, but I'm sorry. I just don't get the obsession with doing it on foreign streets and being proud of something. I mean, we don't even do that in India on a random day and random street!" Another commented, 'I'm a Gujju, and you guys need to stop this nonsense of playing garba anywhere, anytime." 'This is the reason foreigners hate Indians! As a flight attendant, people often come to me & ask me only one question about Indians & that is, 'Why are you Indians so demanding', and now I know why they have mentality like this about us. I mean, come on… Why do you even have to force them to play Indian music?" an individual wrote. 'Is this something to be proud of? They were uncomfortable, but you made them do this?? No wonder why Indians are not respected abroad!" another remarked. Several people also slammed the group for ignoring the performers' hesitation and making them feel uneasy with their repeated requests. First Published: June 03, 2025, 13:11 IST
News18
28 minutes ago
- News18
Pakistan Admits Wider Damage From India's Operation Sindoor, Dossier Reveals 8 More Targets
India's 'Operation Sindoor' caused more damage to Pakistan than initially revealed, impacting eight additional locations, a Pakistan dossier has revealed. Pakistan has admitted it suffered more damage than it earlier acknowledged, during India's 'Operation Sindoor' on the intervening night of May 6 and 7. According to a confidential Pakistani dossier on its internal military Operation 'Bunyan un Marsoos', at least eight more of its locations suffered damage in the Indian strikes. A map in the dossier shows Indian strikes in Pakistan damaged structures in Peshawar, Jhang, Hyderabad in Sindh, Gujrat in Punjab, Gujranwala, Bhawalnagar, Attock, and Chor, on the intervening night of May 9 and 10. The mentioned eight locations were not mentioned by the Indian Armed Forces during the press briefings held after the May 7 counteroffensive. Another map revealed locations struck by India on the intervening night of May 7 and 8. On May 10, nearly three days after India launched 'Operation Sindoor' against terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK), the Shehbaz Sharif-led country extended a call for a ceasefire to India. A couple of days after the ceasefire between India and Pakistan, satellite images captured by Maxar Technologies revealed significant damage to four air bases in Pakistan – Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, PAF Base Mushaf in Sargodha, Bholari Air Base, and PAF Base Shahbaz in Jacobabad. More than 100 terrorists, taking shelter in Pakistan, were also killed in the Indian operation. The operation was launched to avenge the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which was later claimed by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The attack resulted in the killing of 26 tourists. Survivors later said the terrorists had asked them about their faith, and shot dead those who said they were non-Muslims. The terrorists also asked the tourists to recite a ' Kalma ' (an Islamic phrase) to confirm if they were non-Muslims, before shooting them point-blank. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated!
