Govt to consider increase in bilaterals from West Asia

After the nearly three-fold increase in bilateral rights between India and Abu Dhabi,the civil aviation ministry is likely to consider proposals for increase in bilateral entitlements from other destinations in West Asia.

Demands have come from various countries. With Oman,we have discussed. Singapore we have concluded. We have done it with Abu Dhabi. Other countries have also asked and we are looking into it. There was lot of discussion about this, he said on the sidelines of the launch of India Aviation 2014,a five-day exhibition and airshow to be held in March next year at Hyderabad.

During the last one and half year,80,000 seats were allocated to Indian carriers for their operations in Gulf countries and Singapore,Singh said.

The way this sector is going to grow,we saw that last month,there was a 7 per cent increase in the passengers8230; in the international traffic. I think we need a lot more bilateral rights. Lots of countries have requested and we will look at all of them, he said.

Qatar,Dubai and Sharjah are proposing 80,000 additional seats per week as part of bilateral negotiations with India.