IndiGo CEO defends India's bilateral aviation policy amid criticism from Emirates President
Sparring with Emirates President Tim Clark, who once again criticised India's restrictive policy for foreign carriers, IndiGo CEO Pieter Elbers on Monday said, 'if one side makes more and more noise, it doesn't mean that you are more and more right.'
'It's called the bilateral agreement, right? That means two sides have to agree on something,' Mr. Elbers said during a press conference at the Annual General Meeting of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in New Delhi, when asked about India's protectionist policies towards airlines.
On Sunday (June 1, 2025), Mr Clark had stated that India's ambitions for developing hub airports to attract connecting passengers were not 'compatible' with its restrictive policies for foreign airlines. The UAE has sought a revision of the air service agreement and a doubling of seat capacity between Dubai and India from 65,000 seats per week to 1,40,000 seats. However, the Indian government maintains that it needs to prevent leakage of passengers ferried by foreign carriers through their hub airports such as Dubai, Doha, and Singapore, at the expense of Indian carriers flying long-haul routes such as Air India.
IndiGo's CEO described the Indian government's approach as 'completely fair and balanced.' Mr Elbers's remarks, which are usually measured, come at a time when IndiGo is entering the European market, with Manchester and Amsterdam as its maiden destinations from early July. The airline has also doubled its order of widebody Airbus A350 aircraft to 60, enabling it to offer non-stop flights across the world.
Mr Elbers explained that historically there had been an imbalance where several countries with flying rights into India deployed capacity through their airlines for Indian destinations, while Indian carriers lagged behind.
Sharing the stage with Mr Elbers was IATA Director General Willie Walsh, who expressed an opposing view. He said that while flying rights were an issue worldwide, India was now looking at a 'fascinating opportunity' as it pivots from domestic to international connectivity. This transition would require greater access to international markets, which in turn would require reciprocity.
'As we see the expansion of the carriers in India accessing new markets, you will have to see a corresponding change to the approach for access,' Mr Walsh maintained.
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