Skift Take
Indian airlines are accounting for a larger share in international traffic to and from India. However, this is likely in part due to the government's restriction on additional bilateral flying rights.
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Indian carriers accounted for more than 45% of the international traffic to and from India during the April-June quarter. As compared to pre-pandemic figures, the share of Indian carriers in international traffic increased by over 10 points.
IndiGo and Air India have witnessed a 20% increase in international passenger traffic compared to last year, most likely due to the government's decision to restrict additional bilateral flying rights for foreign airlines.
On the contrary, the share of Middle Eastern carriers in the international traffic to and from India remained lower than pre-Covid levels, with Oman Air’s share having declined by over 40% during the quarter from 2019.
This trend reinforces the call for changes in the current bilateral flying rights granted by India. Earlier this year, Emirates President Tim Clark had said that India is restricting its flying rights to give time to Air India and the Tata group amid its merger with Vistara.
“India is clearly protecting the merger of Air India and Vistara. I know from years of experience that protecting your national carriers to the detriment of the economy of the particula