Emirates hovers over struggling airlines
Dubai-based Emirates has said it is "open" to investing in India as the New Delhi government actively considers allowing foreign airlines to pick up equity in an Indian carrier.
India’s airlines are doing it tough. Among them, struggling Kingfisher Airlines has been cutting routes, including those from India to the UK.
"I am not talking specifically about Kingfisher Airlines … (but) am open to investment," chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airlines Group, Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Al Maktoum, said after a meeting with Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, Reuters reported.
India’s finance minister Pranab Mukherjee has previously said the government was "actively considering" allowing foreign airlines to acquire a 49% stake in domestic airlines.
Sheikh Ahmed said in comments published by India’s Economic Times that he felt there was a lot of scope in allowing more flights into India, including flights by the A380.
Currently, the Indian government does not allow Emirates or any international airline to operate the A380 aircraft on grounds that it would take away passenger traffic from India at the cost of Indian carriers.
Apart from Emirates, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines are also pitching for operating A380s to India.
Ian Jarrett
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