
India, Kuwait Agree to Raise Flight Seats by 50%
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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