New Delhi: India is open to signing its first air service bilateral agreement with Qatar if the Arab nation seeks an increase in existing seat entitlements. The civil aviation ministry communicated this view, in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence, to a delegation led by Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani. Qatar has the third-largest natural gas reserves in the world and is among the most influential Arab nations.
"Bilaterals with any country should only be increased, if our carrier wants it," said a senior civil aviation ministry official, who did not want to be named.
Indian carriers are, however, not very enthusiastic about increasing seat entitlements. Gulf carriers depend heavily on the Indian market to enlist passengers to feed routes to Europe and North America. "In the case of Qatar, our carriers do not want any increase. We have told them that the requests from Qatar could be looked into in case they put in a request but our carriers do not want any increase," the official said.
01/04/15 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times
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"Bilaterals with any country should only be increased, if our carrier wants it," said a senior civil aviation ministry official, who did not want to be named.
Indian carriers are, however, not very enthusiastic about increasing seat entitlements. Gulf carriers depend heavily on the Indian market to enlist passengers to feed routes to Europe and North America. "In the case of Qatar, our carriers do not want any increase. We have told them that the requests from Qatar could be looked into in case they put in a request but our carriers do not want any increase," the official said.
01/04/15 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times
