GCAA seeks over 75 pc hike in India-Dubai seat entitlement

Dubai government has sought a more than 75 per cent increase in the seat entitlement from India, over and above the current quota of 65,200 seats per week under the bilateral air service agreement.
"General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of Dubai has requested for an increase of 50,000 seats in total capacity entitlement between India and Dubai," Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.
The minister said the designated carrier of the two countries are currently entitled to utilise a total of 65,200 seats as per the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between India and UAE (Dubai) in February 2014.

The minister, however, said the two countries have not agreed to offer 63,000 seats per week (over and above the current entitlement) to the airlines of each side.
He also said the capacity entitlements with different countries are enhanced through bilateral talks from time to time for promoting international connectivity.
At present, India has bilateral seat entitlements with 112 countries.