Emirates extends India reach

As confusion over the future of India’s Jet Airways continues, Emirates has moved to expand its reach into the sub-continent by signing a reciprocal codeshare agreement with SpiceJet.

Although not connected directly with the Jet Airways crisis, the move reflects a situation with airlines jostling for market share to fill the void left by Jet grounding its flights while it awaits a possible rescue (BTN 22 April).

Reports last week suggested Jet is now hoping to be bailed out by a new investor, with final bids due on 10 May.

Subject to government approval, the Emirates-SpiceJet partnership will allow Emirates’ passengers to connect to the Indian carrier’s domestic flights, in addition to Emirates’ own flights to nine cities in the country.

The Mid-East carrier says the agreement will add 67 weekly connections between its Dubai hub and India and open up services for Indian passengers to a global network including London and Frankfurt as well as destinations in North and South America.

On the wider picture concerning an increase in Emirates’ own direct flights to India, chief commercial officer Thierry Antinori said in Dubai last week: "We would love to add more flights but we are at the limit of the allocation granted to us for traffic rights."

www.emirates.com

www.spicejet.com

www.jetairways.com

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