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Qatar Tribune
23-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
India, Kuwait boost air connectivity with 50% capacity increase
ANI Kuwait City Kuwait and India signed a new air services agreement with an aim to increase weekly air capacity by 50 percent. This partnership will allow the airline operators to raise seats up to 18,000 per week, each direction, up from the previous limit of 12,000. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on air travel was signed by Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al Sabah, President of Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and Samir Kumar Sinha, India's Civil Aviation Secretary, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). This is the first time since 2006, when the deal represents the first such expansion of bilateral air rights. In 2006, the capacity was raised from 8,320 seats. The long-awaited agreement comes as part of ongoing efforts to deepen coordination and strategic partnership between the two nations in the civil aviation sector, said Sheikh Hamoud Al Sabah (member of the Kuwaiti royal family). He said, 'It will support and expand the air transport market for both nations, with a focus on meeting the expectations of travellers and aligning with the evolving dynamics of the aviation industry. 'As of now, airlines such as Kuwait Airways, Jazeera Airways, Air India Express, IndiGo, and Akasa Air operate nearly 40 flights daily on the India-Kuwait route. Specifically, Kuwait Airways leads with 54 weekly flights, followed closely by IndiGo with 36, making them the two dominant players on this corridor. According to a Dubai-based newspaper, IndiGo is seeking an additional 5,000 seats per week, while Air India Express and Akasa Air have requested 3,000 seats each. Air India is reportedly aiming to increase its capacity by 1,500 seats. Flights under the expanded capacity are expected to begin in August 2025, with Indian airlines coordinating with Kuwait International Airport to secure new time long-awaited agreement between Kuwait and India comes as part of ongoing efforts to deepen coordination and strategic partnership between the two nations in the civil aviation sector.
News18
21-07-2025
- Business
- News18
India And Kuwait Expand Flight Capacity After 19 Years, Here's What's Changing For Travellers?
New aviation pact to increase seat capacity to 18,000 per week each way — first major upgrade since 2006. Kuwait and India signed a new air services agreement with an aim to increase weekly air capacity by 50 per cent, as reported by the Gulf News. This partnership will allow the airline operators to raise seats up to 18,000 per week, each direction, up from the previous limit of 12,000. The Gulf News reported that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on air travel was signed by Sheikh Hamoud Mubarak Al Sabah, President of Kuwait's Directorate General of Civil Aviation, and Samir Kumar Sinha, India's Civil Aviation Secretary, according to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA). This is the first time since 2006, when the deal represents the first such expansion of bilateral air rights. In 2006, the capacity was raised from 8,320 seats. The long-awaited agreement comes as part of ongoing efforts to deepen coordination and strategic partnership between the two nations in the civil aviation sector, said Sheikh Hamoud Al Sabah (member of the Kuwaiti royal family). He further added that, 'It will support and expand the air transport market for both nations, with a focus on meeting the expectations of travellers and aligning with the evolving dynamics of the aviation industry." According to Gulf News, IndiGo is seeking an additional 5,000 seats per week, while Air India Express and Akasa Air have requested 3,000 seats each. Air India is reportedly aiming to increase its capacity by 1,500 seats. Flights under the expanded capacity are expected to begin in August 2025, with Indian airlines coordinating with Kuwait International Airport to secure new time slots. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
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.
