Emirates expanding presence in India

Dubai: UAE flag carrier Emirates is planning an expanded presence in India with the start of the winter season.

Expansion pklans include the addition of 31 weekly flights, which will ensure that the airline becomes the largest international carrier in the country. According to a report by the Emirates News Agency, Emirates would now operate 163 flights each week to 10 destinations.

Emirates' Salem Obaidalla, the airline's senior vice president for commercial operations in West Asia, the Indian Ocean and Africa region, was quoted by the news agency as saying that the liberalisation of the Indian airspace and growing demand for air travel is the driver for Emirates' extended presence in India. He said that the airline's winter expansion is the single largest growth in its operations. It comes soon after the airline's service extensions during the summer this year.

Mumbai and Delhi are expected to benefit the most from the expansion, which will be rolled out in a phased manner, with other important commercial hubs including Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad and Kochi, from where additional flights will operate.

Obaidalla was reported as saying that the additional frequencies were timed to offer passengers more consistent schedules and seamless connections to onward points in Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East.