Bilateral pact to add 6,258 more weekly seats to India

By Vinod Nair — MUSCAT: Dec 13: The Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) that took part in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) conference, ICAN 2016, in Bahamas, has signed bilateral agreements with several countries, including India, Saudi Arabia, Kenya and Tanzania. As per an agreement, the number of weekly seats were increased to 27,405 seats for both sides in India, compared with 21, 145 seats per week earlier, an increase of 6,258 seats per week. An agreement has reached with Saudi Arabia to operate seven more weekly flights to Jeddah. Other agreements include any number of flights can be operated to Tanzania against the current agreement that restricted the weekly operations to 14.

Any number of flights can be operated to Kenya against the current agreement that restricted the weekly operations to 10. The agreements are expected to boost the expansion plans of Oman Air and to be launched second airline, SalamAir. '\'

Last year, the MoU between Oman and India allowed additional 5,131 seats to airlines from both two sides, taking the total capacity entitlements from  16,018 seats per week to 21,145 seats per week for both sides.

Oman Air has earlier indicated to the Observer that it is keen to expand its route network, also expand its services to the key destinations in India. Paul Gregorowitsch, CEO, Oman Air, said, “Top priority is to increase frequencies from 126 to 175 flights a week.” The airline was keen on destinations in India such as Mangalore, Kolkata and Amritsar.

François Bouteiller, CEO of SalamAir, too indicated that it will depend on the bilateral rights and ‘we want to ensure that we are going to the right place.” India’s Jet Airways is also keen to expand its operations from Muscat, including double flights to Mumbai and a destination in Bangalore and Calicut. It may be noted India’s budget Airline had also recently increased its services from Muscat to new destinations such as Calicut and Chennai, the cities in southern India.