Team Blitz India
NEW DELHI: Emirates, a leading Middle East airline, has announced its plans to introduce a premium economy cabin on its A380 flights from Mumbai and Bengaluru to Dubai, starting October 29.
At the moment, Emirates provides premium economy service to the UK, US, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. India has been added to the list as the sixth market. The airline further plans to expand it to other routes. According to official resources, the aim of this addition is to attract more passengers, especially in the wake of the upcoming holiday season.
Currently, the airline operates 172 flights to India every week, serving nine destinations and has a seat entitlement of 65,000 for nearly a decade as allocated under the bilateral Air Service Agreement between India and the UAE.
The Emirates is now urging the authorities to increase this capacity to enhance its potential to grow in a bourgeoning market like India.
Emirates stands as a key competitor for Indian carriers in the Middle East owing to its exclusive services, especially those offered on long-haul routes. Interestingly, Air India is gunning for this market share with its new management and the targeted investment of $400 million towards giving its wide-body aircraft fleet a new facelift.
While the competition between India and Middle East airlines intensifies, passengers who frequent the IndiaGulf circuit are likely to benefit. However, currently, both the inbound and outbound fares have increased by 15-20 per cent and are expected to double in November as Diwali approaches.
