From July, flying to Kuwait uncertain

New Delhi: Barely had the Russian threat of not allowing Indian carriers to overfly its airspace died down, the government is now grappling with a similar warning from Kuwait. Sources said Indian ambassador to Kuwait has been told that airlines between the two countries may not fly from July 1. India is learnt to be offering a fresh round of bilateral talks so that the issue could be resolved without hitting air travel.
Kuwait Airways and Indian Airlines - and low cost carriers - AI Express and Jazeera Airways - fly between the two countries. Sources said the dispute stems from the fact that Kuwait wants to operate more flights to India. "One of its airline operates via Dubai. Now increasing those flights is in a way against the bilateral signed for flights between India and Kuwait. Giving more capacity for Dubai on its carrier will also hurt Indian carriers," said the source.
Jazeera Airways uses Dubai as its second base. The aviation ministry is preparing a report on this issue. The government will offer a fresh round of talks to sort out the issue. The government is "cautiously optimistic" about resolving the crisis otherwise flying between India and Kuwait would mean taking a stopover in some other Gulf state.
20/06/07 Saurabh Sinha/Times of India

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Categories: Air India Express Jun 2007, Foreign Jun 2007, Indian Jun 2007