UAE-India travel: Will airfares fall as 2 new airlines gain approval to operate?
Two new airlines in India have received approval to start operations, raising hopes among UAE travellers that airfares to the country could ease. While the announcement has generated interest, travel agents said that any real impact on ticket prices will only be known once flights actually begin.AlHind Air, one of the airlines which gained approval to operate, has received initial clearance from India’s civil aviation ministry and plans to begin domestic operations first before expanding internationally. The UAE is expected to be among its first international destinations once regulatory requirements are met.Another airline called FlyExpress has also been granted a no-objection certificate as part of the Indian government’s effort to encourage competition in the aviation sector.Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.Travel industry executives said that the entry of new airlines could put pressure on fares, but they are cautious that it is too early to make any forecast.“Once the airline is operational, there may be an impact on airfares. Prices could be reduced when more seats are available. Still, it is difficult to estimate at this stage how much of a change we can expect,” said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism.He added that demand for India routes from the UAE remains consistently high. “Flights to major cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and South Indian cities are always in demand. During peak seasons, these flights are usually full. If the supply of seats increases, people are likely to travel more often,” he said.However, travel industry executives also mentioned that several key details are still unclear.“We don’t yet know the sectors, the intensity of flights, or how many services will operate from the UAE,” said Mir Wasim Raja, a manager at Galadari International Travel. “There is also no clarity on which destinations in India they will serve or how many trips will operate daily between India and the UAE.”He said the situation would become clearer only after the airlines begin operations. “Once supply increases, we can expect more seats to India, especially to South India. There is immense demand to South India throughout the year. Some residents don’t travel at all because airfares are too high,” added Raja.Routes to South India, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, are among the busiest for UAE travellers due to a large expatriate population and year-round family and business travel. According to travel agents, flights on these routes often operate at full capacity, particularly during holidays and peak travel periods.“At present, fewer than 10 airlines operate direct services on many India–UAE routes. So additional airlines or a larger number of flights are required,” said Subair.For now, travellers are advised to keep expectations realistic. “Until more details are announced, we recommend booking early, remaining flexible with travel dates, and following updates as the new airlines prepare to launch,” said Subair.Will IndiGo cut UAE flights as India asks airline to reduce operations by 10%? UAE-India travel: Residents rethink trips amid IndiGo flight chaos, peak seasonIndia gives 2 new airlines initial go-ahead to begin operations, weeks after IndiGo crisis
Two new airlines in India have received approval to start operations, raising hopes among UAE travellers that airfares to the country could ease. While the announcement has generated interest, travel agents said that any real impact on ticket prices will only be known once flights actually begin.
AlHind Air, one of the airlines which gained approval to operate, has received initial clearance from India’s civil aviation ministry and plans to begin domestic operations first before expanding internationally. The UAE is expected to be among its first international destinations once regulatory requirements are met.
Another airline called FlyExpress has also been granted a no-objection certificate as part of the Indian government’s effort to encourage competition in the aviation sector.
Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
Travel industry executives said that the entry of new airlines could put pressure on fares, but they are cautious that it is too early to make any forecast.
“Once the airline is operational, there may be an impact on airfares. Prices could be reduced when more seats are available. Still, it is difficult to estimate at this stage how much of a change we can expect,” said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager at Wisefox Tourism.
He added that demand for India routes from the UAE remains consistently high. “Flights to major cities such as Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and South Indian cities are always in demand. During peak seasons, these flights are usually full. If the supply of seats increases, people are likely to travel more often,” he said.
However, travel industry executives also mentioned that several key details are still unclear.
“We don’t yet know the sectors, the intensity of flights, or how many services will operate from the UAE,” said Mir Wasim Raja, a manager at Galadari International Travel. “There is also no clarity on which destinations in India they will serve or how many trips will operate daily between India and the UAE.”
He said the situation would become clearer only after the airlines begin operations. “Once supply increases, we can expect more seats to India, especially to South India. There is immense demand to South India throughout the year. Some residents don’t travel at all because airfares are too high,” added Raja.
Routes to South India, including Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, are among the busiest for UAE travellers due to a large expatriate population and year-round family and business travel. According to travel agents, flights on these routes often operate at full capacity, particularly during holidays and peak travel periods.
“At present, fewer than 10 airlines operate direct services on many India–UAE routes. So additional airlines or a larger number of flights are required,” said Subair.
For now, travellers are advised to keep expectations realistic. “Until more details are announced, we recommend booking early, remaining flexible with travel dates, and following updates as the new airlines prepare to launch,” said Subair.
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